Press Releases
Year
Wellness on Wheels Brings Healthcare to Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2012
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Wellness on Wheels Brings Healthcare to Communities
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Participates in a Mobile Round Up
CHAMPAIGN, IL – On Friday, March 23, 2012, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will partner with the State of Illinois and four other organizations to host the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) “Mobile Round Up”.
The Wellness on Wheels program enables health providers, faith and community-based organizations to offer services to people who often times have limited access to health services: minorities, low-income families, underserved and rural communities. The mobility of this innovative program allows it to conveniently serve multiple populations. Wellness on Wheels has participated across the State of Illinois at such events as back-toschool fairs, Juneteenth Celebrations, health fairs, faith-based celebrations, outdoor sporting events and outreach events for the homeless.
The WOW program, which is funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health Center for Minority Health Services, currently has five mobile units that serve various regions of Illinois. They are maintained and operated by the Springfield Urban League (Springfield and O’Fallon), Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (Champaign), Regional Care (Joliet) and Legacy Training and Development (Grand Chain).
The four agencies will be in Champaign for a training followed by a health fair from Noon until 2:00 p.m. at the following two locations: Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, 124 West White Street, Champaign and Washington Square Apartments, 108 West Washington Street, Champaign. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will provide a number of free screening services including HIV, syphilis, blood pressure, STD urine testing and prostate screening; breast and cervical cancer information and diabetes educational services will also be provided.
Wellness on Wheels are mobile clinics that have several potential uses such as physical exams, basic primary care, men and women’s health screenings, HIV testing and counseling, basic health screenings and first aid. WOW mobiles have also been utilized by health departments, employers and hospitals for special needs such as during flu-shot season or at senior centers. Each mobile is approximately 13 feet high by 8 feet wide by 31 feet long and come equipped with a minimum of one exam room, a small workstation, bathroom, air condition, refrigerator and wheelchair accessibility. Wellness on Wheels provides the mobile facility, driver, event scheduling, technical and referral assistance free of charge.
Request a Wellness on Wheels Mobile
If your company or organization is interested in utilizing Wellness on Wheels or if you are a medical professional willing to provide services please call 1-866-792-4325 (HEALTH) or e-mail
Funding for this program is provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health Center for Minority Health Services
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2012 Sports Fish Consumption Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2012
Contact
Melaney Arnold 217. 558.0500 (IDPH)
Maggie Carson 217.558.1536 (IEPA)
Chris McCloud 217.558.1540 (DNR)
2012 Sports Fish Consumption Advisory
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced the 2012 consumption advisories for sport fish caught in Illinois waters. This year, new advisories are being issued for the following lakes and rivers:
- Carbondale City Reservoir, Jackson County
- Greenville Old City Lake (Patriot’s Park Lake), Bond County
- Henderson Creek (below the junction with Cedar Creek), Warren County
- Lake of the Woods, Champaign County
- Pyramid State Park, Perry County
- Siloam Springs Lake, Adams County
- Vermilion River, Champaign and Vermilion counties.
Additionally, several less-restrictive advisories have been issued this year.
The Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program screens fish samples from approximately 40 bodies of water each year for contamination from 14 banned pesticides, industrial chemicals and methylmercury. The program is a joint effort of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the departments of agriculture, natural resources and public health.
The fish are collected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and tested by IEPA. IDPH issues an annual consumption advisory based on the IEPA test results. The advisory also can be found on the IDPH website at: www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/fishadvisory/index.htm.
“The advisories are not meant to discourage people from eating fish, but should be used as a guideline to help people decide the types of fish to eat, how often and how to prepare the fish to reduce possible contaminants,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Acting Director Dr. Arthur F. Kohrman. “Fish are a good source of high quality protein and other nutrients and are low in fat. However, contaminants may make some fish unsafe to eat except in limited quantities, particularly for women of childbearing age and young children.”
Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/IDPH.Illinois or follow us on Twitter @IDPH. 2012 Sports Fish Consumption Advisory/ Page 2
While there is no known immediate health hazard from eating contaminated fish from any body of water in Illinois, there are concerns about the effects of long-term, low-level exposure to pesticides and chemicals, such as chlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and methylmercury. Methylmercury has been found to cause reproductive damage and have adverse effects on the central nervous system, including developmental delays.
The advisories are based primarily on protecting sensitive populations, including women of childbearing age, pregnant women, fetuses, nursing mothers and children younger than 15 years of age.
Changes and new 2012 advisories:
- Carbondale City Reservoir, Jackson County – methylmercury
- Largemouth Bass larger than 15 inches – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for others
- Crappie larger than 12 inches – one meal per week for sensitive populations
- Casey Fork Creek, Jefferson County - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- All Channel Catfish – one meal per week
- Cedar Creek, Warren County - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- All Channel Catfish – one meal per month
- Evergreen Lake, McLean County - methylmercury Greenville Old City Lake (Patriot’s Park Lake), Bond County – methylmercury
- Crappie larger than 10 inches – one meal per week for sensitive populations
- All Largemouth Bass – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for all others
- Henderson Creek (below Cedar Creek), Warren County - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- All common Carp – one meal per month
- Kickapoo Creek, Peoria County - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Common Carp larger than 19 inches – one meal per week
- Kishwaukee River, Boone, McHenry and Winnebago counties – methylmercury
- All Smallmouth Bass – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for all others
- All Rock Bass – one meal per week for sensitive populations
- Lake Bracken, Knox County - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and methylmercury
- Common Carp smaller than 23 inches – one meal per week
- Common Carp larger than 23 inches – one meal per month
- Largemouth Bass smaller than 17 inches – one meal per week
- Largemouth Bass larger than 17 inches – one meal per month
- Lake Michigan, Cook and Lake counties - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Lake Trout less than 25 inches – one meal per month
- Lake Trout 25-29 inches – six meals per year
- Lake Trout larger than 29 inches should not be eaten
- Lake of the Woods, Champaign County – polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and methylmercury
- All common Carp – one meal per month
- Largemouth Bass larger than 15 inches – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for all others
- Pyramid State Park, Perry County – methylmercury
- All Largemouth Bass – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for all others
- Siloam Springs Lake State Park, Tazewell County – methylmercury
- All Largemouth Bass – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for all others
- Skillet Fork Creek, Jefferson, Marion and Wayne counties – methylmercury
- Common Carp larger than 21 inches – one meal per month for sensitive populations; one meal per week for all others
- Vermilion River¸Vermilion and Champaign counties - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Common Carp larger than 26 inches – one meal per week
- Channel Catfish larger than 16 inches – one meal per week
The statewide mercury advisory cautions sensitive populations to eat no more than one meal per week of predator fish, which pose a greater risk because they feed on other fish and accumulate higher amounts of methylmercury. Predator fish include all species of Black Bass, (Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted) Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Saugeye, Sauger and Walleye.
Women beyond childbearing age and males older than 15 years of age may eat unlimited quantities of predator fish, with the exception of the fish caught from the 33 bodies of water that are on the special mercury advisory. These include:
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For fish that may contain PCBs and chlordane, the advisory provides consumption advice in five categories – unlimited consumption, no more than one meal per week, no more than one meal per month, no more than six meals per year and do not eat.
Anglers who vary the type and source of sport fish consumed – opting for younger, smaller fish, and consuming leaner species such as Walleye and Panfish over fatty species such as the common Carp and Catfish, and who prepare and cook fish in ways that reduce the amount of contaminants – can limit their exposure to harmful substances that may be found in fish.
Several ways to reduce any PCBs and chlordane present in edible portions of fish include:
- Remove the skin from the fillet and cut away any fatty tissue from the belly and dorsal areas before cooking.
- Broil, bake or grill in a way that allows fat to drip away.
- Discard fat drippings or broth from broiled or poached fish. Do not use in other dishes.
These precautions will not reduce the amount of methylmercury in fish. Mercury is found throughout a fish’s muscle tissue (the edible part of the fish) rather than in the fat and skin. Therefore, the only way to reduce mercury intake is to reduce the amount of contaminated fish eaten.
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Groundwater is a Vital Resource
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2012
Contact
Michael Flanagan, Environmental Health Specialist I
(217) 531-2908
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Groundwater is a Vital Resource
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Promotes National Groundwater Awareness Week
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) promotes National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17, 2012. According to the National Ground Water Association®, groundwater is essential to the health and well-being of humanity and the environment. Groundwater is the water that soaks into the soil from rain or other precipitation and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings in beds of rocks and sand. This week’s purpose is to educate the public about the importance of groundwater and water well stewardship.
More than 90 percent of all public drinking water systems rely on groundwater to supply the population with drinking water and millions of Americans rely on groundwater from aquifers to supply their private wells, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
CUPHD encourages residents of Champaign County with private wells to test their water annually for contaminants. Private water wells should be tested every year for evidence of coliform bacteria and nitrates, and should be tested more frequently if there are recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness or there are changes in taste, odor or appearance.
“Private well water safety is often overlooked by the general public,” said Michael Flanagan, Environmental Health Specialist I at CUPHD. “The water from a homeowner’s private well is not checked by any agency. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure that their drinking water is free of contaminants.”
Private well water test kits are available for $20 each (within Champaign-Urbana city limits) or $49 each (elsewhere in Champaign County) at the Environmental Health Division of CUPHD located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign from 8:00 AM – Noon and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM; Monday through Friday. The kit fee includes sample bottles, instructions and lab testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Testing for coliform bacteria will reveal whether your water supply may be contaminated with infectious organisms. Nitrates found in ground water may be produced by agricultural fertilizers, livestock wastes or septic systems.
To ensure a safe water supply, residents are also encouraged to use the following simple guidelines:
- Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil far away from the well.
- Maintain a proper separation (at least 50 feet) between the well and private septic systems, kennels, livestock operations and chemical storage areas.
- Seal abandoned water wells.
- Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. This seal should keep out insects and rodents. There should be no openings into the cap, except for a factory-installed vent.
- Keep your well records in a safe place. These include construction reports, annual water well system maintenance and water testing results.
For more information on private water wells, please contact CUPHD at (217) 373-7900 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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