FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2008

Contact
Susan Butler, Coordinator / Health Educator – Safe Kids Champaign County / CUPHD
(217) 531-4268

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

Outdoor Injury Prevention Starts in Your Own Back Yard

Safe Kids Champaign County Offers Yard Safety Tips

Each of five major child injury hazards — motor vehicles, drowning, burns, falls and poison — can be found in the back yard during the summer. Riding mowers, inflatable pools, home playground equipment and even natural vegetation and sunlight require a few simple precautions.

“All of the safety guidelines you apply to sports, playgrounds and swimming apply to those activities in your own back yard,” says Susan Butler, Safe Kids Champaign County coordinator. “An inflatable pool needs to be surrounded by a fence, just like any other pool. A home playground needs to be anchored on an appropriate surface just like equipment on a public playground.”

Kiddie pools should be emptied when not in use. “Kiddie pools are just as dangerous to a small child as full-size pools — a child can drown in just a few inches of water,” says Butler.

Safe Kids offers detailed guidelines about pool safety and playground safety at www.usa.safekids.org.  In addition, Safe Kids Champaign County recommends these precautions for activities in the back yard:

• Always supervise your children in the back yard or at playgrounds. Make sure they play on a safe surface, such as mulch, rubber or fine sand.
• Treat a riding mower like any other motor vehicle: keep ignition keys out of reach and look around before backing up. Never carry children as passengers on a lawnmower; children should stay in the house whenever a mower or other power equipment is being used. Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old for a rideon mower.
• Allow children to perform age-appropriate yard work only under supervision. Don’t allow a child to attempt tasks inappropriate for his or her age, size, strength, cognitive ability or prior experience.
• Make sure your children wear a properly fitting helmet and other protective gear every time they ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, and other wheeled toys.
• Remove potential poisons from your yard, including poisonous plants, pesticides and pool chemicals. Teach kids not to handle or eat any part of a plant unless you know it is safe.
• Keep children away from the grill area while preheating and cooking and while the grill is cooling.
• Following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, apply insect repellent to a child’s clothing and exposed skin. (Check with your pediatrician if you have any questions about the instructions.)
• Teach children not to disturb or feed any wild animals, no matter how harmless the animals may seem.
• Apply sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher to your child’s exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before going out, and reapply frequently. (It is possible to get a sunburn in cloudy conditions.)
• Make sure your child drinks plenty of water. A child who seems tired or achy should rest in the

shade or go inside for a while. Get immediate medical help any time a child’s skin is hot to the touch (with or without perspiration) or if a child has a seizure or becomes disoriented in hot weather.

For more information about summer safety, call 217-531-4268 or visit www.usa.safekids.org.

Safe Kids Champaign County works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under.  Safe Kids Champaign County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Champaign County was founded in 1996 and is led by Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. 

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Download 2008-07-09-SafeKids-Outdoor-Injury-Prevention-PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2008

Contact
Michael Flanagan, Environmental Health Specialist I
(217) 531-2908

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

Case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Verified in Local Champaign County Dog

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to be Knowledgeable of Tick Precautions and Tick-borne Diseases  

Champaign, IL – A case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) has been positively identified in a local dog in Champaign County.  To date, no human cases of RMSF have been reported.  The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages citizens of Champaign County to be vigilant in checking both themselves and their pets for ticks, take basic precautions to prevent exposure to ticks and to recognize the potential symptoms of tick-borne diseases.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a disease caused by a bacteria carried by ticks.  Symptoms of RMSF in people include fever, nausea and muscle pain about a week after being bitten by a tick, followed a few days later by a prominent rash, usually located on the arms or ankles.  RMSF cannot be spread by animals or people only through a tick bite or from exposure to tick body parts or fluids which might enter the body through cuts or scrapes on the skin.

There are many basic steps that can be taken to prevent tick bites, and the possible exposure to tick-borne diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and many others.  Steps include:

• Avoid tick infested areas. Ticks are often found in areas with tall grass and weeds or wooded areas.  If walking in these areas, try to walk in the center of trails so vegetation does not brush against you or your pet.
• Wear light colored clothing, which allows you to see ticks crawling on your clothing.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes. Tuck your pant legs into your socks to prevent ticks from having easy access to exposed areas and crawling onto skin.
• Apply repellents to discourage tick attachment. Always follow label instructions.
• Perform tick checks every two or three hours using a hand held or full length mirror. Pay special attention to:
  • Under the arms o In and around the ears
  • Back of the knees o Feet & ankles
  • In & around the hair
  • Around the waist o Inside the belly button

• If pets are outdoors, check them for ticks before bringing them in the house. Contact your veterinarian for additional options for tick control for pets.
• Reduce exposure to ticks by reducing areas of tall dense vegetation around the house.

If a tick is discovered, it is important to remove it properly.  The proper removal of ticks includes:

• Do not use bare hands to remove a tick. Use a barrier such as tweezers or tissue to grasp the tick near the mouth parts (as close to the skin as possible).
• Gently pull the tick in a steady upward motion.
• Wash the area with soap and water and use a disinfectant on the bite site.
• Record the date and location of the tick bite, and watch for early symptoms of tick borne illness including fever, nausea and muscle aches.

NOTE:  If an unexplained illness with a fever develops after having any exposure to a tick.  Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

DO NOT:

• Squeeze the tick.
• Pour kerosene, nail polish, soap or rubbing alcohol on the tick.
• Rub Vaseline on the tick.
• Attempt to burn the tick with a match or cigarette butt.

Once a tick is removed it should be placed it in a hard leak proof plastic container with rubbing alcohol to be identified by a tick expert.  FREE tick identification is available at CUPHD at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign; Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm. 

Although ticks and the prospect of contracting a tick-borne illness is a concern, there is no need to avoid the woods or the outdoors.  People and pets can still enjoy a healthy summer complete with all their favorite outdoor pastimes as long as proper and easy preventative measures are taken.

For additional information on ticks, tick-borne diseases or free tick identification for Champaign County residents, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.

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Download 2008-06-27-Tick-RMSF-2008-PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Gives Illinois Communities Top Honors for Maintaining Fluoride Levels

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District applaud local measures  to improve overall community health.

Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) recognized five community water systems for maintaining state mandated fluoride levels every month in 2007.  State recommended fluoride levels are 0.9 to 1.2 parts per million, in standard drinking water.

The community water systems recognized included:

• Illinois American Water – Champaign: 24 consecutive years
• Sangamon Valley Public Water District: 9 consecutive years
• Ludlow Water Department: 2007
• Royal Water Department: 2007
• Sadorus Water Department: 2007
• Honorable Mention – Ogden Water Department: 11 out of 12 months in 2007

“Water Fluoridation is a proven way to prevent tooth decay and improve overall oral health for both children and adults,” said Alicia Ekhoff, Dental Program Coordinator for CUPHD.  “CUPHD appreciates the care that these local water companies are taking to ensure better oral health for the members of their communities.”

Scientific studies have found that people living in communities with fluoridated water have fewer cavities than those living where the water is not fluoridated.  Community water fluoridation is a cost-effective, equitable and safe way to provide protection from tooth decay and CUPHD commends those communities who fulfill the state mandated levels of fluoride in their water systems.

Fluoride in drinking water helps improve the quality of life through less tooth decay, reduced time lost from school and work, and less money spent to restore, remove or replace decayed teeth.  In Illinois, 99 percent of those served by public water systems receive the benefit of fluoridated drinking water compared to the current national average of 66 percent.  Fluoride is found naturally in water, but in many communities the amount of the mineral is too low and does not meet the required standards.  Water operators must add fluoride to provide optimal health benefits to their communities.  Of the 1,840 water supplies in Illinois, 859 systems adjust fluoride levels.  The average cost is about 50 cents per person per year.  A small cost when compared to the savings in dental treatment.  Water fluoridation currently benefits more than 200 million Americans, 12.4 million in Illinois.

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Dental Division offers preventative and restorative procedures and simple extractions at their new location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign.  Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-531-4279.  Children enrolled in the Urbana School District may also be seen at the Urbana School Health Center located in the Urbana High School.  Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-239-4220.

For more information on the importance of Fluoride in water or any CUPHD dental clinics or programs please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.

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Download 2008-05-27-Water-Fluoridation-Awards-PR