Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center

🌪️ Thankfully, there were no reports of "flying" cows 🐄, but the Chicagoland area registered over 20 tornadoes this past week. In light of all the severe weather many experienced this week, it is a good time to evaluate your severe storm preparedness. What worked? What didn't work? Were you ready? 🌪️

For severe weather safety tips, visit weather.gov/safety

Is your home on a lakeshore? Buffer strips can benefit lakes in many ways. Shoreland and upland plants provide food and cover for birds, amphibians, insects, and mammals, stabilize lake-bank soils against wave action, and hold soil in place against the eroding forces of water running over the ground. They also absorb nutrients found in fertilizers and animal waste, which can cause algae blooms and excessive plant growth in lakes. Learn more: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2390/Buffer-Strips

Anyone who uses our lakes can help stop the spread of invasive species. Along with never moving aquatic species from one location to another, always remember to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and gear. If uncontrolled, invasive species can harm our environment, health, and economy.

If you lost power or are still without it, take steps to ensure that your food is safe to eat to prevent foodborne illness.

For more information, visit https://ow.ly/sxJG50SCEFz

Strong storms are expected to move through Lake County this evening. Take steps to protect yourself and loved ones:

📞 Check and make sure cell phones and other important electronics are charged.
🔦Double check your emergency bags for supplies and flashlights for batteries.
👵🏻 Reach out to elderly relatives, friends or neighbors to make sure they are aware of the possibility of severe weather, have a place to shelter if needed, and don’t need to leave their home.
👧🏾Check in with your kids to make sure they know what to do if the tornado sirens go off.
🐶🐱Include your pets in your emergency plan. Have a go bag for your cat or dog with food, a leash, a water bottle and their favorite blanket.
🚨Stay informed. Know where to go for weather updates in your area and check back often.

The Lake County Emergency Management Agency is very concerned about the storms that are expected to move through the area tonight. There is the potential for destructive winds, a derecho, tornadoes, and rain falling at 1-2 inches per hour. This is shaping up to not be your average storm.

The Emergency Management Agency will be monitoring diligently and coordinating with our partners throughout the night. We encourage everyone to keep an eye on the weather and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. There’s a good chance of watches and/or warnings being issued for Lake County tonight. We know there’s some confusion with those terms, so think of tacos:

Watch: We have the ingredients to make tacos
Warning: We are having tacos. RIGHT NOW!

Further updates can be found from the US National Weather Service Chicago Illinois and at weather.gov.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This annual observance raises awareness about the unique challenges that affect the mental health of racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations.

Mental health is just as important as physical health at all stages of life. It affects how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call our Crisis Care Program to speak with a counselor at (847) 377-8088 or by walking in at 3002 Grand Avenue, Waukegan. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Where is your head at this summer? Whether you are spending your days in the water, at the beach, or on the couch watching your favorite islanders, practice healthy habits all summer long. ☀️🏝

🏫 Get ready for the ‘24-’25 school year! Schedule your vaccines and physicals now! 📅
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🏫 Приготовьтесь к 24–25 учебному году! Запланируйте вакцинацию и медосмотр вашего ребёнка прямо сейчас! 📅

We’ve made improvements to our Beach Monitoring and Advisories webpage! You can find out which inland and Lake Michigan beaches are safe for swimming with our new interactive map. Learn more: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2385/Beach-Monitoring-and-Advisories

🎆 Will you be enjoying a few drinks this Fourth of July? 🎆

If so, play it smart by having a plan not to drink and drive. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Your best defense is to plan for a sober ride, whether that be taxis, public transportation, or a ride-sharing app. If you don't plan on drinking, be the designated driver and ensure your friends and family make it home safely.

To learn more about drinking responsibly, visit bit.ly/drinking-responsibly.

July is Lakes Appreciation Month! Our Ecological Services team is in the field almost every day to ensure our lakes can be enjoyed for generations to come. Our lakes are monitored to maintain and improve water quality and ecological diversity, as well as to promote healthy and safe lake conditions for swimming and recreation. Learn more: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2381/Ecological-Services

🍔🔥 Fire up those grills it's BBQ time!

Follow the infographic's prevention steps and strategies to enjoy a safe meal. To learn more about food safety, visit bit.ly/cdc-grilling-safety.

National HIV Testing Day occurs annually on June 27. Getting tested for HIV can help a person know their status, and no matter the results, getting tested for HIV is the first step to staying healthy.

At this time, the Lake County Health Department offers HIV self-testing kits ( https://redcap.dph.illinois.gov/surveys/?s=MEJWPWTR3XNDTM3D&gclid=CjwKCAjwpuajBhBpEiwA_ZtfhRx2BTgGHHQzmtK0LPJNihtFNy1n_ETrMC_zNPy5TgguRyXkzKzI5RoC8iEQAvD_BwE) so you can test when and where it is convenient for you. HIV testing is a critical tool to help end the HIV epidemic in the United States. Visit the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/hiv-testing/index.html) to find an HIV testing site near you, or call the Health Department at (847) 377-8450 for more information about HIV testing.

For more information about HIV, visit https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/index.html

🦔🐰🐱 June is Pet Preparedness Month 🐶 🐹🦎
Pets are important members of the family and depend on their owners for their safety and well-being. Just as people have a plan in an emergency, everyone should also have a plan for pets. In addition to the necessary food and supplies in your pet preparedness kit, make sure to have a safe place to take your pets.
For more ways to prepare for an emergency with your pet, visit ready.gov/pets.

🌩️ Did you know that lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun and can reach temperatures around 50,000 degrees? Lightning is one of the most underrated weather hazards.

The threat of lightning increases as a storm approaches, peaks when it is overhead, and gradually diminishes as it moves away. If lightning is in your area, take steps to stay safe by:

○ 🏠 Going indoors as soon as you hear thunder (large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring or an enclosed vehicle if no building is available)
○ ⚠️ Pay attention to alerts and warnings
○ 🚫 Avoid using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet

Do not seek shelter in buildings that have exposed openings or vehicles that have open cabs.

For more information, visit weather.gov for:
Lightning Safety: https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning
Lightning Myths and Facts: https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-myths

Reúnase con la Agencia para Sustancias Tóxicas y el Registro de Enfermedades (ATSDR) en una reunión pública para obtener más información acerca de la evaluación sobre el óxido de etileno.
📅 Miércoles, 26 de junio del 2024
🕔 Sesión abierta al público
De 5:00 a 7:00 p. m., hora del centro

Reunión pública
De 7:00 a 8:00 p. m., hora del centro

📍 Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan, IL 60085

Para más información: https://bit.ly/3zfYLal

Lake County, IL residents: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is hosting a public meeting to share findings from our recent health consultation on EtO.
📅 June 26, 2024
🕔 Public Availability Session
5:00 – 7:00pm
Public Meeting
7:00 -8:00pm
📍 Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan,IL 60085

We invite community members and fellow health partners to join us and learn more about report findings. Access resources at: https://bit.ly/3zfYLal

⚠️During these hot summer months, you may see algae blooms.⚠️

These blooms can potentially be toxic for you and your pets.

To learn more about algae blooms, visit bit.ly/cdc-algae-blooms & remember WHEN IN DOUBT, STAY OUT!

PRESS RELEASE: A mosquito “pool” (batch of mosquitoes) sampled on June 12, 2024 in Highland Park has tested positive for West Nile virus. This mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile virus presence in Lake County in 2024. Read more: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ILLAKE/bulletins/3a3e512

It’s National Mosquito Control Awareness Week! Did you know that mosquitoes go through four life stages, spending the majority of their life stages in water? Stay in control of your yard and disrupt the mosquito's life cycle by eliminating standing water in buckets, flowerpots, trash cans, and other containers.

For more ways to defend against mosquitoes, visit FightTheBiteNow.com

🌡️ Higher temperatures are in the forecast this week, and if you or someone you know does not have access to air conditioning, you can find a list of cooling centers in Lake County by visiting bit.ly/LakeCountyCoolingCenters. Did you know getting too hot can make you sick if your body can’t regulate its temperature and properly cool you off? Know the signs of heat-related illness and be prepared by:

• 💧 Drinking extra water
• 🧓 Checking on elderly family, friends, and neighbors
• 🐾 Making sure pets have plenty of water and shelter
• 🚫 Never leaving children or pets in a car

For more hot weather safety tips, visit the CDC's:
• Extreme Heat and Your Health page: cdc.gov/extreme-heat/about/index.html
• Symptoms of Heat-Related Illnesses page: cdc.gov/extreme-heat/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html

Today is World Blood Donor Day, which celebrates blood donors worldwide while promoting the continuous need for regular, healthy blood donations. Regular donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable supply. Blood is needed by women with complications during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anemia, often resulting from malaria or malnutrition, accident victims, and surgical and cancer patients.
To learn more about World Blood Donor Day, visit https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2024.

Summer festival season is here! You can celebrate safely by getting your mpox vaccines before the festivals and events begin. Schedule your appointments for mpox vaccines, STI and HIV screenings, and PrEP by calling Need2Know Lake County at (847) 377-8450.

June is Men's Health Month. Did you know that, on average, men in the United States die nearly six years earlier than women and are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and HIV? During this annual observance, men and boys are encouraged to be proactive in their health by implementing healthy living decisions.

Even though Men's Mental Health Month is observed in June, healthy habits should be practiced year-round by:
• Getting regular checkups
• Eating a healthy diet
• Staying active
• Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Managing stress

To learn more about how to take charge of your health, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/regular-checkups/men-take-charge-your-health).

Health Department staff were excited to join everyone at Lake County Pride Fest over the weekend. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our tables or joined in the celebrations! Happy Pride Month! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜