Press Releases
Year
Warm Weather Increases Tick Activity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2013
Contact
Awais vaid (217) 531-5360
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Warm Weather Increases Tick Activity
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to be Knowledgeable of Tick Precautions and Tick-borne Diseases
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) wants to remind people about safe practices to avoid ticks. As the weather warms up, people and pets come out to enjoy outdoor activities. This time of year is also when ticks become active and start to look for food. Areas with tall grass, leaf litter and wooded places are typically where ticks are found.
Several tick species are present in Champaign County. The most common tick is the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). This tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and tularemia to people and their pets. Another tick is the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), also known as the deer tick. This is the main tick species that transmits Lyme disease.
The best thing to do is to avoid coming in contact with ticks altogether. When visiting parks, stay in the middle of paved paths to avoid brushing the bordering grasses. Ticks climb up grasses and leaf litter to wait for a person or animal to brush by – a behavior called questing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that repellents with DEET of 20 percent or more can help repel ticks.
It is very important to check yourself carefully for ticks after being outside. While adult ticks are larger and more noticeable, remember that immature ticks can be much smaller and harder to see. Check every few hours and remove any ticks you find promptly. Depending on the disease, it takes hours for a tick to transmit disease-causing organisms, so finding and removing them early is very important. When returning home, bathe or shower as soon as possible and look carefully for any ticks. Remember to check your pets as well.
Additional information on ticks and tick removal can be found on CUPHD’s website at: http://www.c-uphd.org/tick-information.html.
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New Program to Promote Health and Sustainability by Encouraging Kids to Walk and Bike to School
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2013
Contact
Whitney Hayes Special Projects Coordinator (217) 531-2913
Cynthia Hoyle, C-U SRTS (217) 278-9059
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
New Program to Promote Health and Sustainability by Encouraging Kids to Walk and Bike to School
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and C-U Safe Routes to School to Help Kick-Off Pilot Program in Urbana
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), in partnership with C-U Safe Routes to School, is set to help the Urbana Middle School kick-off a new voluntary program that promotes health and sustainability by encouraging kids to walk and bike to school through Boltage.
Boltage is a program that combines technology with incentives to encourage children to walk or bike to school and is geared towards changing habits. Children who participate in the program will receive a ZapTag and will pass under a solar-powered RFID (radio frequency identification) reader when they walk or bike to school. When children pass under the reader, a unique number is transmitted from the tag and is uploaded via the internet. The school can then run activity reports and reward the participants with items such as wristbands, stickers or even public recognition.
Students interested in participating in the Boltage program are encouraged to attend the Boltage Kick-Off Party on Thursday, April 25, 2013 from 3:45-4:30 PM at the Urbana Middle School in classroom 1510. Parents are also encouraged to come for additional information. This one-month pilot program will begin May 1 and will focus on biking to school.
To pick up a ZapTag and register your child for the program, go to https://my.boltage.org/pub/register. For additional information, visit www.boltage.org or contact Whitney Hayes at 217-531-2913 or Erin Lodes at
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Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, April 20th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2013
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Dental Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, April 20th
The Illini District Dental Society, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and SmileHealthy Participate in “Give Kids a Smile”
Champaign, IL – The Illini District Dental Society, in conjunction with the ChampaignUrbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and SmileHealthy, will be participating in Give Kids a Smile® (GKAS) Day on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. The event is part of the Children’s Dental Access Program through the American Dental Association® (ADA) that provides free oral health care services to children of low-income families.
On April 20th, local dentists and hygienists are taking the opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering time and services for GKAS and providing free dental exams, cleanings and fluoride varnish treatments to any child between the ages of one and 17. The oral health fair will offer a wide range of services and activities for everyone including: dental hygiene education; free toothbrushes; face painting; coloring contests with prizes; nutrition bingo; and visits and pictures with Flossie from the Illinois State Dental Society, the Tooth Fairy, and the Delta Dental Tooth Wizard. The Twin City Derby Girls will also be on hand to talk about their sport and the importance of wearing mouth guards. Appointments are not necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child. There are no income or residency requirements to receive services at the fair.
According to David Wickness, DMD, local General Dentist and Secretary for the Illini District Dental Society, “The goal of the event is to create a fun atmosphere where children, and their parents, gain a greater understanding of the importance of good oral health. It also is an opportunity for local dental professionals to give back to their community.”
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator for the CUPHD Children’s Dental Clinic, reports, “The need for affordable dental care continues to grow. Basic dental care is such an important part of a child’s overall health care, and all children deserve the opportunity to receive regular, preventative dental care and restorative dental care when needed. No child should have to suffer with tooth pain.” This year’s event will feature nine dental chairs to allow providers to see more children for services.
For more information about the Give Kids a Smile® Oral Health Fair, please contact SmileHealthy at (217) 359-7404 or the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District at (217) 531-4538 or at www.c-uphd.org. Follow us on facebook at Illini Give Kids a Smile.
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