According to the Illinois Poison Center, more than half the calls they receive involve children under the age of 6. Young children are naturally curious and explore their environments by putting things in their mouths, but it may surprise you what household items can be deadly to children:

1. Nicotine. Not only is smoking unhealthy, ingesting tobacco and nicotine products can be extremely dangerous, including ashtrays, chewing tobacco and nicotine chewing gum. As little as 3 butts or one piece of gum can be toxic.

2. Lamp Oil. Lamp oil is often sweet-smelling or colorful found in Tiki torches or oil lamps. A study by the IPC shows that 10% of all pediatric lamp oil ingestions result in an admission to the intesive care unit of a hospital.

3. Table Salt and Baking Soda. Just about every household has a salt shaker on the table or in the kitchen and many homes keep baking soda on-hand as well, but too much of either can be dangerous. As little as 1 tablespoon (ingested at once) can cause seizures and 2 tablespoons can be fatal for children. One tablespoon of baking soda ingested by a toddler can significantly change blood pH levels and cause harm.

4. Muscle rubs, like Bengay or IcyHot. The active ingredient in muscle rubs is chemically similar to aspirin - one tablespoon ingested equals 19 aspirin tablets! Keep these products away from the reach of kids.

5. Mouthwash. Many mouthwashes contain ethanol, which is an alcohol. Scope contains 15% alcohol and Listerine contains 22%. If a 25 pound toddler drank just 1 ounce of Listerine, the child would legally be drunk. Drinking 3-4 ounces could cause toxicity and even coma.

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Property Tax Payment Information 

If you do not receive your bill by May 10, contact the

Lake County Treasurer's Office at 847-377-2323.

When taxpayers receive their tax bill in a few weeks, they will see a line that reads "state multiplier 1.0199" This number comes from the Illinois Department of Revenue. This means that assessed values will rise 1.99% for tax billing purposes, it does not mean that tax bills will go up by 1.99%.  In most years, the "state multiplier," or equalization factor is 1.0000, which means the assessed value on a piece of property does not change.

The assessment process is a way of dividing tax burden. If everyone's value goes up by the same percentage at billing, the relative burden does not change.

Over the last three years, the Lake County Board of Review saw record numbers of assessment appeal filings. The volume of successful appeals, coupled with valuation change requests submitted by local assessing officials, led to the need for a higher state multiplier in order to bring Lake County assessed values to 33 1/3% of its market value (in the aggregate).

For questions about:

State Equalization Factor - County Clerk's Tax and Real Estate Department,

847. 377.2287

Tax Bill - Treasurer's Office, 847.377.2323

Assessment - Chief County Assessment Office, 847.377.2050

Example Tax Bill:

On June 18th the Lake County Fielders will open their new stadium to the public with a 7:00 pm home-opener game against Na Koa Ikaika Maui. The Fielders is co-owned by Academy Award-wining actor Kevin Costner, and Field Manager Tim Johnson was an infielder with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1973-78 and managed MLB's Toronto Blue Jays in 1998. Tickets for the 2011 season are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (847) 731-8000 or logging on to  

http://www.fieldersbaseball.com/ 

Check it out: http://www.smartschoolsbrightfutures.org/