By The Kewanee Voice    August 7, 2025

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Summer swimming safety tips

According to a report from the Home Safety Council, drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury and related death. Drowning incidents may involve any source of standing water, including swimming pools, spas, buckets, bathtubs and toilets.

“Drowning is a sudden and silent danger,” notes the Home Safety Council. “Since drowning victims do not make any noise once in distress, constant supervision around any body of water is critical and the best method of prevention.”

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments urge families to take the following basic safety precautions around water outdoors and in-home.

• Always practice constant adult supervision around any body of water.
  Older children should not be left in charge of younger children in the pool area.
• Install four-sided fencing that isolates the pool from the home.

Four-sided pool fencing is proven to be an effective drowning prevention intervention. While many communities have codes or regulations that require some form of pool fencing, there is not a consistent national standard.

• Pool fencing should be at least 5 feet high and have self-locking and self-closing gates.
• Position gate latches out of the reach of young children.
• Never prop the gate open or disable the latch.
• Clear debris, clutter and pool toys from the pool deck and adjoining pathways to prevent falls.
• Keep a cordless, water resistant telephone in the pool area and post emergency numbers near the pool area.
• Enroll non-swimmers in swimming lessons taught by a qualified instructor. Pediatricians recommend that children ages 5 and older learn how to swim.
• Never swim alone. Even adults should always swim with a buddy.
• Learn and practice the basic lifesaving techniques, including First Aid and CPR. Insist that anyone who cares for your children learn CPR.
• Keep poolside rescue equipment close to the pool area.
• Post emergency numbers and CPR instructions prominently near the pool area.

The Health Department and First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Colona encourage everyone to follow these important water safety guidelines to ensure that everyone has a fun and safe summer swimming season. Find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

Monthly CPR classes offered through Health Department

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare are offering monthly CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification classes.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. That’s why the Health Department encourages people to take a CPR certification class. As the American Heart Association says, “Learn to save a life, learn CPR. The Life you SAVE could be that of a loved one.”

CPR training will teach participants to recognize and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in infants, children, and adults. Instruction will also be given on how to recognize emergencies and actions to take, and understanding the role of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) in the Cardiac Chain of Survival.

CPR classes are held on the fourth Tuesday monthly. The class will be held at the Health Department offices, located at 110 N. Burr Blvd. in Kewanee. The classes will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost of the class is $45. Payment and registration are due prior to the class date. These rates are per participant.

There is a set participant “minimum” and “maximum” for classes; so anyone interested should contact the department at 309-852-0197 Ext. 231.

Health Departments offer home radon detector tests in recognition of World Lung Cancer Day

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments note that Aug. 1 has been proclaimed World Lung Cancer Day. The Health Department believes this important health observance is a good time to remind local residents that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.

Radon Home test kits are available for purchase at $15 per kit through their offices in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon while supplies last.

The Health Department staff notes, “Many people don’t even know that radon gas is such a health threat. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in the soil and water that can build up to dangerous levels in the home. Radon gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible and the only way to know if a home has a radon problem is to test for it. Breathing radon can increase one’s risk of lung cancer. If you are a smoker, your risk is even more heightened.”

Radon gas has been found in 65% of homes in Henry County and 82% of homes in Stark County. Radon is a Class A human carcinogen, meaning there is actual evidence that exposure to radon causes lung cancer. It is the cause of 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States annually.

Testing your home is the only way to know if you have elevated levels of radon. If radon levels, above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), are detected in your home; the Health Department can provide you with information regarding radon mitigation on our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or through our Environmental Health Division.

For more information on the $15 Radon Home Testing Kits call our location nearest you Kewanee 309-852-0197; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309-852-3115.

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, Aug. 1-7

The WIC and Case Management programs and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare announce that Aug. 1-7 has been proclaimed World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) and August has been proclaimed Breastfeeding Month.

The theme for the 2025 Annual WBW celebration, honored by more than 120 countries worldwide, is “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.” This year’s theme is bringing focus to the environment and climate change through highlighting our roles in supporting breastfeeding to create a sustainable environment while simultaneously reducing the impact of climate change caused by artificial infant feeding.

Maggie Schmidt, breastfeeding peer counselor with the Health Department, notes, “Benefits of breastfeeding are numerous, well known and research based. Babies who are breastfed are protected against respiratory and ear infections, asthma, allergies, childhood cancer, and obesity. Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.”

In accordance with World Breastfeeding Week and Month, staff notes that throughout Illinois, local WIC agencies work within their communities to get mothers and babies off to a good start with breastfeeding. Continuing the education and counseling moms receive prenatally, WIC agencies work with area hospitals, healthcare providers and local La Leche League Chapters to provide seamless support as moms come home from the hospital and transition back to work and school. In addition, through the statewide breastfeeding peer counselor program, moms receive one-on-one support from experienced breastfeeding moms.

“What people have to remember is that there are so many benefits to breastfeeding. Even if new mothers are able to do it for only a short time, a baby’s immune system can benefit from breast milk,” said Schmidt.

There are many other benefits of breast milk for a mother, her baby, and others:

Benefits for the baby:

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development. Babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.
• Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.
• Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born prematurely.

Benefits for mom:

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!
• Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted. For more information on breastfeeding call the Health Departments at 309- 852-5272; or visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com; or find us on Facebook at “Henry County Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.”

Get Covered Illinois health insurance navigators at upcoming events

Becks Gas Station, 2433 S. Oakwood Ave., Geneseo, Ill.
Monday, Aug. 11
1 -3 p.m.

“Get Covered Illinois” navigators can help you:

–Find affordable health coverage that meets your needs
–Fill out and submit your application
–Compare quality health plans side-by-side
–Find out if you qualify for financial help to lower your monthly premium
–Find out if you qualify for Medicaid or an affordability program
–Understand your benefits
–Understand health insurance terms

Remember you may be eligible to enroll in a Get Covered Illinois health plan outside of the usual Open Enrollment, or make changes to your existing coverage, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The SEP may require you to enroll within 60 days of a Qualifying Life Event.

A qualifying life event is a life change, such as:

–Loss of Health Coverage, due to:
–Losing job-based coverage
–Losing Medicaid coverage
–Losing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors or Health Benefits For –Immigrants Adult coverage
–A divorce or legal separation
–Turning 26 years old, no longer eligible for parents’ coverage

Other qualifying life events include:

–Getting Married
–Having a baby or adopting a child
–Moving to a new ZIP code or county
–Becoming a US Citizen
–Leaving incarceration.

For more information on this Get Covered Illinois Navigator event or assistance in enrolling in a Get Covered Illinois Healthcare Marketplace please call 309-852-5272.