Press Releases
Year
High Temperatures and Humidity Can Be Extremely Dangerous
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2011
Contact
John Dwyer, Coordinator / CCEMA
(217) 384-3826 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
High Temperatures and Humidity Can Be Extremely Dangerous
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency Urge the Public to Take Extra Precautions to Stay Safe in the Heat
Champaign, IL –The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) urge everyone to watch for the symptoms of heat-related illness, and to take precautions to keep their families and communities safe.
Heat-related illness can take many forms ranging from a mild case of heat exhaustion to a more serious and life-threatening case of heat stroke. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly and the body looses its ability to perspire and cool down. Rising to temperatures of 106° F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes can result in death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Signs and symptoms of heat-related illness include:
- An extremely high body temperature of 103° F or higher
- Red, hot, and dry skin (no signs of perspiration)
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness or confusion
- Nausea
Never leave children, elderly persons, or pets in a parked car – even for a few minutes with the windows partially open. The metal of the vehicle conducts and concentrates the intense heat and brain damage or even death can occur from the rapid rise of temperature in the vehicle. Children, the elderly, and pets are especially susceptible to heat-related illness due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the inability to adjust to sudden changes in temperature, the tendency to retain more body heat, dehydration due to over activity or exertion, and the lack of access to adequate fluids.
Precautions to avoid heat-related illness:
- Stay hydrated. Drink at least 48-64 ounces of cool non-caffeinated and nonalcoholic beverages (caffeine & alcohol are diuretics and will increase dehydration). Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.
- Reduce the amount of activity during the hottest parts of the day. If you must be active during those times, strive to take frequent breaks in a shady or cool area.
- Wear light-colored and lightweight clothes.
- Take a cool shower or sponge bath if you begin feeling over heated.
- Retreat to an air-conditioned environment if you begin to feel overly warm. If you do not have air conditioning, consider visiting a mall, grocery store, or other public place to cool off.
If you or someone you know shows signs of a heat-related illness, have someone call for medical assistance while you begin the cooling process:
- Take the person to an air-conditioned, cool, or shady area.
- Cool the person rapidly by spraying cold water from a shower or garden hose.
- Monitor the body temperature carefully until the temperature drops below 101°102° F.
- Give plenty of cool (not cold) non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages to drink. Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
The following cooling centers are available throughout the local area:
- Champaign-Urbana Public Health District – Champaign
- Marketplace Mall – Champaign
- Public Aid Office, North Country Fair Drive – Champaign
- Lincoln Square Mall – Urbana
- Public Libraries – Champaign, Urbana, Tolono
Anyone can suffer a heat-related illness. CUPHD and CCEMA urge everyone to take precautions in the summer heat and to check on children, the elderly, and pets frequently.
For more information, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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Summer Food Service Program Starts Next Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2011
Contact
Charlotte Miles, Nutritionist
(217) 531-4284
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Summer Food Service Program Starts Next Week
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts Food Program Providing Free Meals to Children
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is hosting the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) again this year beginning on Thursday, June 16, 2011. The program provides free meals and snacks throughout the summer months when children are not in school.
SFSP is sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education and will run until August 19, 2011 in the lobby of CUPHD located at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. Breakfast is served from 9:00 am – 11:00 am, a morning snack from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, and lunch from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. All meals are free to children ages one to 18 regardless of income or residency.
“The Summer Food Service Program is very important to help maintain children’s nutritional values throughout the summer,” according to Charlotte Miles, Nutritionist at CUPHD. “The program at CUPHD will also include activities, arts and crafts, and games during the meal times with the most participation.”
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District proudly sponsors programs such as these to help children learn and grow. For more information, please contact CUPHD at (217) 531-4284 or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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Upcoming Workshop to Benefit Women
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2011
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-531-2914
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Upcoming Workshop to Benefit Women
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts a FREE Women’s Wellness Workshop to Provide Healthy Habit Ideas
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be hosting a FREE Women’s Wellness Workshop on Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM (speakers begin at 5:30 PM) at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. This educational and fun workshop will be geared towards increasing positive healthy habits of women.
“The women of today are busier than ever before and too often women do not realize the strain that they inadvertently place on their health, which may lead to unfortunate consequences in the future,” said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator for CUPHD. “CUPHD hopes that this Women’s Wellness Workshop will give participants the tools necessary to meet these challenges in a healthy way.”
This workshop will feature vendors focused on women’s health and guest speakers touching on topics including stress management, healthy shopping on a budget, and healthy food ideas for families on the go. In addition, there will be free blood pressure checks, fitness demonstrations, a free Zumba® class, door prizes, and much more.
Guest speakers and topics include:
- Kenna Dunlap Johnson, MSW, LCSW, Pavilion “Stress Management for Busy Women”
- Participants will learn ways to limit, manage, and cope with stress in simple healthful ways.
- Misty Appleby, The Frugal Family
- “Healthy Shopping on a Tight Budget”
- Participants will learn ways of saving money on groceries using special coupon techniques combined with in-store deals, and competitor price matching.
- Julie Bliss, Culinary Bliss
- “Quick and Healthy Food Ideas for Families on the Go”
- Participants will learn to prepare healthy meals for their families in no time at all and will have the opportunity to make a quick healthy creation of their own.
Women are encouraged to register for this event by contacting Nikki Hillier at 217.531.2914 or
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