Press Releases
Year
World Oral Health Day: March 20th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2022
Contact
Whitney Greger, Interim Director of
Wellness & Health Promotion
(217) 531-2914 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
World Oral Health Day: March 20th
CUPHD encourages everyone to make the best decisions possible to look after their oral health for their happiness and well-being.
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) celebrates March 20th as World Oral Health Day. Oral health is multi-faceted. It allows you to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease. An unhealthy mouth can restrict your capability to perform these everyday functions, which can have a severe impact on your quality of life by affecting your emotional, social, mental, and overall physical well-being. Poor oral health affects nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide and has far-reaching consequences, yet people tend not to realize the severe impact an unhealthy mouth can have on their life.
CUPHD wants everyone to make the best decisions for their mouths and encourages you to:
- Practice a good oral hygiene routine;
- Visit the dentist regularly; Eat a balanced, low-sugar diet;
- Avoid tobacco.
More than 530 million children worldwide suffer from tooth decay in their primary teeth, which can lead to pain, infection, tooth loss and missed school days. CUPHD’s Child and Teen School Sealant Program visits all public schools in Champaign, Savoy and Urbana to provide school dental exams, cleanings, fluoride and dental sealants. All students are eligible for a dental exam at school, at no cost to the parent.
Additional information on CUPHD’s Dental Program, including school sealant program schedules and registration packets can be found here: https://www.c-uphd.org/dental-health.html
###
Champaign County EMA and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urge People to Prepare for Severe Weather
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2022
Contact
John Dwyer, Coordinator / CCEMA
(217) 384-3826 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Champaign County EMA and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urge People to Prepare for Severe Weather
Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois is February 28-March 4
Champaign, IL – The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) urge everyone to prepare for severe weather. February 28-March 4, 2022 is Severe Weather Preparedness week in Illinois. In 2021, we had another December tornado outbreak, with eight tornadoes in Illinois on December 10. There was one EF3 tornado that caused six fatalities and one injury near Edwardsville IL, and five EF2 tornadoes in central Illinois causing one injury. There was significant property damage in many areas of central and southwestern Illinois totaling millions of dollars. Now is the time to prepare - before severe weather is predicted.
We cannot stop severe thunderstorms, lightning, or tornadoes from developing or happening, but there are things that everyone can do to minimize the impacts of severe weather on our lives and our families. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the following precautions can be taken to prepare for severe weather:
- STAY INFORMED
This can be done by monitoring a weather alert radio, local radio and TV broadcasts, NWS web pages, or various applications on computers and smart phones. DON'T just rely on one method - especially storm sirens - which are NOT designed to be heard indoors by everyone. Have multiple ways to receive information such as:
- Weather Alert Radio
- Portable radio with battery backup
Wireless emergency alerts on most smart phones - cell phone apps such as FEMA and Red Cross will send you warnings for your area but make sure to enable alerts • Local TV and radio stations
- HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN
Do this for your home, business, schools, and when you are traveling. Designate places to go to seek safe shelter from a tornado or severe thunderstorm. Pick two places to meet in case you are separated from your family or co-workers. While traveling or when away from home, know the names of the locations you are visiting - especially county and city names.
- PREPARE YOURSELF & YOUR HOME FOR AN EMERGENCY
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, how to administer CPR, and how to turn off the electricity, gas, and water supplies in your home.
- Inspect your home for potential hazards such as weakened trees or limbs, cracked windows, or worn roofing.
- When you build a new structure - or renovate an existing one - there are ways to prevent wind damage to roofs, upper floors, and garages. Rafters, trusses, walls, and doors can all be reinforced.
- HAVE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
Some storms produce power outages that will last for several days. Having the following items will help you cope with the disaster:
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Extra clothing and blankets
- An extra set of keys and cash
- Medications and a first aid kit
- Personal hygiene items
- Pet supplies
- A weather alert radio or portable AM/FM radio
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the NWS developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide which provides information about tornadoes, severe storms, lightning, and flooding along with recommended actions to take before, during, and after each of these weather events. It is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. The NWS, Lincoln also has a Severe Weather Safety web page at: https://www.weather.gov/ilx/ for numerous tornado, severe storm, flooding and lightning safety graphics.
Preparedness tips and information are also available through the Ready Illinois Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois) and Twitter Page (twitter.com/ReadyIllinois). For local information, go to Champaign County EMA (https://www.facebook.com/ChampaignEMA) and Twitter Page (twitter.com/ChampCoEMA).
###
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Appointed to NACCHO Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2022
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Appointed to NACCHO Board
Ms. Julie Pryde to serve as Region 5 Board Member
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is honored to announce that Ms. Julie Pryde, Administrator, has been appointed to the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO). Ms. Pryde will serve as Region 5 Board Member through July 1, 2023. Board members will work to support NACCHO’s mission to improve the health of communities by strengthening and advocating for local health departments.
“I am honored to serve on the NACCHO Board with other Public Health Administrators from across the U.S. to help ensure a stronger, more robust and responsive public health system,” said Julie Pryde, CUPHD Administrator.
###