Press Releases
Year
Celebration Will Honor 50,000 Ounces of Local Breast Milk Donations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2017
Contact
Abby Graham, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
(217) 531‐4322, agraham@c‐uphd.org
Celebration Will Honor 50,000 Ounces of Local Breast Milk Donations
Champaign, IL – On Friday, August 4th the Champaign‐Urbana Public Health District’s (CUPHD’s) breast milk depot will celebrate reaching a goal of 50,000 ounces (440 gallons) of milk donations. Breast milk donations are stored and then sent to the Milk Bank in Indianapolis for medically fragile babies. The celebration will be held outside on the CUPHD lawn from noon to 1:00 p.m.
CUPHD opened its breast milk depot in June 2014. Depots are designated drop‐off locations that store and ship breast milk to milk banks, where it is processed and distributed to premature babies across the US. Prematurity is the leading cause of death for newborns, and breast milk decreases the chances that these infants will develop serious illnesses. Some mothers of premature babies cannot produce breast milk, and therefore many hospitalized babies have a need for donated milk.
The CUPHD milk depot celebration will wrap up World Breastfeeding Week by honoring the local moms that have donated their milk, along with providing fun activities, raffle prizes, and food.
“We are so thankful to the generous moms who have donated breast milk to our depot,” Abby Graham, CUPHD Certified Lactation Counselor, said. “They are providing a life‐saving resource for fragile infants.”
The breast milk depot is housed in CUPHD’s Maternal and Child Health division, which promotes breastfeeding as the healthiest nutrition for all babies. The division’s staff includes eight Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) and one International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), who serve Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Family Case Management mothers. CUPHD also provides breast pumps to mothers in these programs.
For more information: www.c‐uphd.org/breast‐milk‐donation.html To become a breast milk donor: www.themilkbank.org
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E‐cigarettes: Not Harmless Water Vapor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2017
Contact
Tara McCauley, Special Projects Coordinator
217‐531‐4252, tmccauley@c‐uphd.org
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
E‐cigarettes: Not Harmless Water Vapor
CUPHD Highlights Health Concerns Associated with Vaping
Champaign, IL – The Champaign‐Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has released an infographic highlighting the health hazards of e‐cigarettes, as well as recommended solutions to protect public health. The infographic is available at www.facebook.com/wechoosehealthchampaign.
The flyer describes the toxic chemicals in e‐cigarettes. Studies have found that e‐cigarette vapor contains chemicals found in formaldehyde, antifreeze, pesticides, and heavy metals. The chemicals are known causes of serious health issues such as cancer, popcorn lung, bone marrow damage, and fetus neurodevelopmental damage. For these and other reasons, a 2016 US Surgeon General report designated e‐cigarettes as a national public health threat.
The health hazards of cigarettes are more alarming because e‐cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among youth for several years. Over two million middle and high school students were e‐cigarette users in 2016, compared to 1.43 million cigarette smokers. In Champaign County, approximately nine percent of twelfth graders used e‐cigarettes in 2016, compared to four percent who used cigarettes.
Additionally, contrary to popular perception e‐cigarettes do not help smokers quit. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved e‐cigarettes as a cessation method, and most e‐cigarette users also smoke conventional cigarettes. This is referred to as dual use.
Tara McCauley, Special Projects Coordinator, said, “E‐cigarette marketing has misled the public about the safety of vaping. I hope that our infographic sheds some light on health effects of e‐cigarettes.”
The public health community recommends e‐cigarette‐free spaces as one important strategy to curb ecigarette exposure. Matching e‐cigarette‐free policies to smoke‐free policies protects people from secondhand vapors and reduces e‐cigarette use. In Champaign County at least 300 businesses and organizations already have e‐cigarette‐free policies. Additional e‐cigarette prevention recommendations include better enforcement of existing age restriction laws and reduced e‐cigarette marketing.
CUPHD’s tobacco prevention project is part of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Free Communities initiative.
For more information: www.c‐uphd.org/tobacco.html
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Summer Food Service Program Starts Next Tuesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2017
Contact
Brandon Meline, Director of MCH
(217) 531-4308 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Summer Food Service Program Starts Next Tuesday
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts Summer 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 Tuesday, May 30. The program provides free meals throughout the summer months when children are not in school.
SFSP is sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education and will run through midAugust in the lobby of CUPHD located at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. Breakfast is served from 9:00 am – 11:00 am and lunch from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm. All meals are free to children ages 1 – 18 regardless of income or residency.
“The Summer Food Service Program is a very important program. Many children get most of their nutrient intake from school food service nine months out of the year and it can be a challenge for some families during the summer. We are very pleased to be able to provide this service when school is out,” according to Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal and Child Health.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District proudly sponsors programs such as these to help children learn and grow. For more information on programs like this or other available services, visit www.c-uphd.org.