The Henry and Stark County Health Departments remind area residents that summertime is outdoor activity time. With the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend many of us may be heading outdoors for our celebrations and meals. It’s true that cooking and eating outside in the fresh air is fun for everyone. Unfortunately, warm weather eating also brings out something else less pleasant – food poisoning. To avoid such an unwelcome addition to any picnic or cookout the Health Department recommends the following:
● When at the grocer’s, choose meat and poultry last. Bag your selections with other cold items and get them home promptly. Don’t leave such food in the car while you run errands. If foods are allowed to get warm, germs and pathogens that are present will begin to multiply.”
● Once home, store soon-to-be-used meat and poultry items in the refrigerator in their original store wrapper or rewrap in freezer foil and stored in the deep freezer. This will shorten freezing time and also enable them to be thawed more quickly later on by reducing the time needed between thawing and cooking. What’s more, meat and poultry products should never be allowed to thaw at room temperature. Defrosting such items in the refrigerator or microwave is a much safer practice.
● Pay close attention to how foods are prepared for cooking outdoors. Wash all countertops, cutting boards and knives with hot soapy water before and after using them for raw foods. Such “cross contamination” could be unhealthy. Always wash hands before and after handling raw meat items.
● When packing up foods for a picnic or outing, place perishable items including hot dogs, cheese and luncheon meats in a well insulated cooler and cover with plenty of ice. Keep coolers in the shade and open them only when necessary.
● While it is usually safe to store picnic leftovers in an ice-filled cooler, it’s a good idea to package up remaining foods immediately after the meal is finished. Food items left out at room temperatures for three hours or more should be discarded, but those exposed to warmer outside temperatures should be disposed of much sooner. Actually, the best rule to follow is “when in doubt, throw it out.”
Food poisoning may often go undetected, as the symptoms often mimic those of the flu and include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. However, food poisoning can be serious and anyone who suspects that they have such a condition should consult their health care professional right away.
It is imperative to practice good food handling habits before, during and after warm weather meals. Help make summertime fun, delicious and safe. For more information on the Health Department’s Food Program visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
With June’s designation as Pride Month the Henry and Stark County Health Departments remind the local residents of their PrEP/HIV Prevention program and services available year-round.
This new PrEP/HIV Prevention grant includes and provides to local residents:
● Completely confidential and inclusive safe sex education, including how to reduce risk of HIV transmission
● HIV testing for general screening or post-exposure to HIV
● Assessment of individual risk and potential need for PrEP or PEP treatment
● Counseling about PrEP and PEP treatment and necessary monitoring
● Prescribing prophylactic PrEP medication (Oral or Injectable) OR
● Prescribing PEP medication, to reduce risk of HIV after a possible exposure
The Health Department’s First Choice Healthcare staff note that another aspect to this important health grant and initiative is that funds are available to help participants to receive services and needed medications.
First Choice Healthcare Clinic staff can help participants navigate financial assistance, for different types of insurance (or lack of insurance):
● Medicaid insurance – covers treatment 100%
● No insurance or private insurance? Financial assistance is available easily through the state.
For more information, call the First Choice Healthcare Clinic nearest you Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011 or Toulon 309-852-3115 or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments remind students & parents that August will be here soon enough. And so their First Choice Healthcare Clinics are offering Sports and School Physical Exams appointments throughout the summer at all their locations at a cash price of only $40. Those with insurance coverage, please bring insurance information – if billing to insurance.
Appointments are available at their clinics in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd. 309-852-5272; Colona, 103 1st St. 309-792-4011; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St. 309-852-3115.
The clinics will offer area junior high and senior high school athletes, freshmen, sixth graders, kindergartners, and preschoolers school or sports physicals. To help reduce wait times, arrive with your physical forms – obtained through your local school districts, already completed.
The First Choice Healthcare Clinics encourage parents to call early for their appointments; and thereby avoid the end of the summer rush.
Parents make sure your children are up-to-date on their required immunizations before school begins this fall. Immunizations, TB checks; blood lead screenings, and other needed lab tests are also available to participants at additional charges. The First Choice Healthcare clinics have all immunizations that are required for school entry as private pay vaccines. Please call for eligibility, costs, and for vaccine availability.
In addition, certified copies of birth certificates for children born in Henry County since 1971 can be obtained through the Health Department office, 110 N. Burr Blvd., Kewanee. The charge for obtaining birth certified copies is $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy.
For more information visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
