Press Releases
Year
Give the Gift of Yourself this Valentine’s Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2013
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator (217) 531-2914
Jennifer Jackson, Health Educator II (217) 531-2912
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Give the Gift of Yourself this Valentine’s Day
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Sponsor Annual Freedom From Smoking® Program
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Make this Valentine’s Day special – give the gift of yourself. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be sponsoring the annual Freedom From Smoking® program beginning February 19, 2013. According to the American Lung Association, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death.
The Freedom From Smoking® program is an eight-week program that helps participants by working together with other quitters to develop and execute their own individualized “Quit Plan”. The program is available to anyone 18 years of age and older who lives in Champaign County. The cost is $20.00 but anyone who completes six of the eight sessions will receive a $10.00 refund. The fee includes program materials and an eightweek supply of nicotine patches for those who qualify.
“Quitting smoking can be very difficult, and we want to support individuals in making these difficult behavioral changes so they can be successful,” said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator at CUPHD.
Freedom From Smoking® classes will be offered at CUPHD, 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign, on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM. The program will be held at various times throughout the year but seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact Nikki Hillier with questions or to register at
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Radon Gas Causes More Than 20,000 Lung Cancer Deaths in the Country Each Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2013
Contact
Jennifer Simburger, Environmental Health Specialist I
(217) 531-2929 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Radon Gas Causes More Than 20,000 Lung Cancer Deaths in the Country Each Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to Test Their Homes with Free Radon Test Kit
CHAMPAIGN, IL – January is National Radon Action Month and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages citizens to learn more about the threat of radon and to test their homes for the presence of radon. CUPHD has a limited number of FREE radon test kits available for residents of Champaign County. Test kits may be picked up at the Environmental Health Division of CUPHD located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign; kits are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to Noon and 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Test kits are available while supplies last.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to indoor radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released into the air from decaying matter in rocks, soil and water. While levels in outdoor air are relatively harmless, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels inside buildings. Radon is an invisible threat; it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. The only way to detect radon is to perform a radon test.
The free test kits provided by CUPHD are safe and easy to use. Simply open the test kit, and place the radon detector in a designated area in the home for a minimum of 48 hours, with windows and doors closed. After 48 hours, place the detector in the enclosed postage-paid envelope and send it to a lab for a free analysis. The lab will then inform you of your radon test results.
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The EPA recommends that homes with radon levels of 4 pCi/L or higher should be mitigated. The national average home reading is about 1.3 pCi/L. The average outdoor reading is about 0.4 pCi/L.
Radon presents a serious health risk, but it can be controlled easily and cost effectively. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family. Test your home and protect your health today.
For more information on radon or free radon test kits for Champaign County residents, please contact CUPHD at (217) 373-7900 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org/radon-detection.html.
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December 1st is World AIDS Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2021
Contact
Candi Crause, Director
(217) 531-5372 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
December 1st is World AIDS Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Everyone to Get Tested
Champaign, IL – Annually, December 1st is observed as World AIDS Day in an effort to raise awareness of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that more than one million people are living with HIV in the United States and 33.4 million worldwide. Of the 12,000 new infections each year, one in four is in youth 13 to 24 years old.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages people to get tested and know their status. The CDC estimates that of the one million people living in the United States with HIV, one in five is unaware of their infection. According to Candi Crause, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management, “HIV is 100% preventable. The key to overcoming this epidemic is to not only educate people on the facts of HIV/AIDS but to open the lines of communication. HIV spreads through silence and lack of communication. Access to testing and risk reduction supplies is crucial.”
CUPHD provides case management services for over 300 HIV-positive clients in 17 counties in East Central Illinois. Services include medical and dental assistance, nutritional assistance, utility and housing assistance, legal assistance, mental health assistance and support group assistance.
CUPHD’s Infectious Disease division offers HIV education, prevention and testing at the 201 West Kenyon Road facility in Champaign. Testing is available Monday thru Friday, 8:30 – 11:30 AM and 1:00 – 4:30 PM.
For more information on HIV/AIDS, call (217) 531-5365 or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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