Summer camping, hiking, and outdoor season are in full swing throughout Illinois; and the Henry and Stark County Health Departments are everyone who enjoys the outdoors about the importance of protection against ticks and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Ticks are active into the fall and pose a serious health risk to humans and pets.
Tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Illinois. Lyme disease screening is a great opportunity to be tested for tick-borne diseases that have been detected in the state.
Due to this continued risk, the Health Department and First Choice Healthcare have joined with MDL Labs and the Illinois Lyme Association to announce they have Lyme disease screening now available at all of their clinic locations: Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd., 309-852-5272; Colona, 103 1st St., 309-792-4011; Toulon, 120 E. Court St., 309-852-3115, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Most insurances are accepted. MDL labs files insurance claims, and participants will receive “in-network” benefits, including Medicaid and Medicare.
In addition, the Health Department Environment Division has received a special tick collection and testing grant. The grant covers tick testing surveillance activities which includes their staff conducting a series of tick collection drags at various sites throughout Henry and Stark County.
The most important thing people can do to “Fight the Bite” is to diligently check themselves, their pets and children for ticks after spending time in areas where ticks live, such as in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush. Removing ticks within a 24-hour period reduces the risk of potential disease transmission.
For more information on the Health Department’s Tick Collection and Testing or Lyme Disease screening visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.org.
June has been designated National Safety Month. The Henry & Stark County Health Department is reminding residents that they have Illinois EPA funded Residential Sharps Collection Kiosks in six communities – five in Henry County and one in Stark County where citizens may safely drop off their used sharps.
Medical sharps, such as needles, syringes and lancets, pose an injury risk for anyone who comes in contact with these items. Large numbers of sharps are used and generated by individuals and in homes and residences each and every day. If sharps are not disposed of correctly, they can be a safety & health hazard to any children, adults or sanitation workers that may come in contact with them.
The Health Department is partnering with local law enforcement and county officials, and a pharmacy to locate convenient disposal sites for local residents to utilize.
The Residential Sharps Collection Kiosks will be located at the following locations during regular business hours:
● First Choice Healthcare Kewanee Clinic, 110 N. Burr Blvd., Kewanee
● First Choice Healthcare Colona Clinic, 103 1st St., Colona
● First Choice Healthcare Toulon Clinic, 120 E. Court St., Toulon
● Geneseo Police Department, 119 S. Oakwood Ave., Geneseo
● Henry County County Courthouse, 307 W. Center St., Cambridge
● Alpha Pharmacy, 211 S. 1st St., Alpha
The Health Department will also be working with local law enforcement agencies to conduct sharps collection drives at various times throughout the year for additional disposal opportunities.
For more information on the programs and services available through the Henry & Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare call 309-852-0197 or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
It’s a small device that can save a life. The Henry and Stark County Health Departments have free gun locks available through their offices and clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon.
Recently the Illinois Department of Public Health – IDPH announced a major milestone in its effort to promote firearm safety: the agency, in cooperation with local Health Departments, has now provided more than 100,000 free gun locks since the statewide initiative began less than a year ago.
Health Department officials note every day, 64 Americans die by firearm suicide — one every 22 minutes. Also of note, households that locked both firearms and ammunition were associated with a 78 percent lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries and an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens, compared to those that locked neither.
“These simple steps can be life saving for the adolescent or adult who reaches for a firearm in an impulsive gesture during a moment of crisis. Or for a school-age child who thinks the firearm is a toy,” said RaeAnn Tucker, director of Health Promotion with the Henry and Stark County Health Department.
The initiative, aimed at reducing the stigma of addressing gun safety, is part of a growing effort by public health and medical professionals who are treating the country’s gun violence epidemic as a public health crisis.
These gun locks are available through the Veterans Crisis Line. This is a 24/7 Confidential Crisis Support Network. Simply: Dial 988 the Press 1; or Chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat; or Text 838255.
Tucker said, “The purpose of this program is to limit young people having easy access to guns. In addition, this initiative is being used to prevent readily accessible guns from being in the hands of the wrong people or individuals in mental crisis.”
Department officials encourage family members of and those with mental health concerns to take advantage of these free gun locks.
The Health Department will also be working with other area health care professionals, law enforcement officials, mental health providers, and social service agencies to urge and help gun owners to store their weapons properly and believe safety locks, such as the ones being handed out, give people an extra layer of protection.
Residents can pick up free gun safety locks by stopping by the Henry and Stark County Health Department Offices locations in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd; Colona, 103 1st St.; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St. Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.
For more information on free gun safety locks program, visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
