Videos
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Healthiest Nation in One Generation: Video from the American Public Health Association |
 | | "Rockford Register Star Newsmaker Video" Helps Ensure Your Health |
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Holiday Health
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Safety Messages
Toy Safety
Toy buying safety tips | |
During the hustle and bustle of preparing for the holidays, don't forget to put safety first, particularly when buying toys for children. Here are four keys to holiday toy safety.
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Holiday Food Safety
The holidays are a time for delicious feasts...not stomach upset....
Food safety is especially important during family holiday gathering, as food is being served in large amounts and in unique displays. Did you know the majority of food-borne illnesses are reported and investigated during major holidays? Properly storing, cooking, and displaying large volumes of food will help prevent food-borne illness during your holiday celebrations. For the complete holiday food safety article, click here.
To report a food-borne illness to the Winnebago County Health Department, please call 815-720-4100, Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, or after hours WCHD, at 815-720-4000.
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Winter Weather Preparedness
Winter is upon us! | | |
Winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous, but if you plan ahead, you can stay safe and healthy by:
Preparing your home and cars,
Keeping emergency kits stocked,
Being ready for power outages,
Wearing appropriate clothing, and
Checking on children, the
elderly and pets.
Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us are not ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall. Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter, but staying inside is no guarantee of safety.
For steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months, visit CDC by clicking here.
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Contact InformationWinnebago County Health Department
401 Division Street
P.O. Box 4009
Rockford, Illinois 61110-0509
815-720-4000
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Join Our List
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 Dear Community Resident:
Welcome to the reinstatement of "Compass"... a WCHD newsletter intended to provide public health partners and the broader community with information on services and resources vital to reducing preventable disease and avoidable health care costs. Compass will strive to highlight the path of evidence-based prevention strategies and promote good health as a shared responsibility between individual healthy choices and community / public policy support to improve health at all levels.
The logo of WCHD has been used consistently since it was developed in 1971, some 40 years ago this year (2011). Using a little imagination, it is a stylized version of a "compass", supporting directions to good health, while also symbolizing the coming together (1970) of the County and City health departments into one organization to more completely and efficiently serve all of Winnebago County.
Please share this issue with friends and associates.
Happy Holidays,
J. Maichle Bacon
Public Health Administrator
Winnebago County Health Department |
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NACo Prescription Discount Pharmacy Card |
Winnebago County Receives Outstanding Performance Award from the National Association of Counties Organization
The National Association of Counties Organization (NACo) honored Winnebago County with the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program Outstanding Performance Award. This honor highlights the County's demonstration and commitment to providing savings on prescription medications. This program is available for all residents of Winnebago County, but is designed primarily for those individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. All Winnebago County residents can use the card when their prescription is not covered by insurance. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no limits on how many times the card is used.
The Winnebago County Chairman's Office, the Winnebago County Board, and the Winnebago County Health Department implemented the Prescription Discount Card Program in 2008 and since that time our local residents have saved more than $1.2 million dollars on the cost of their prescriptions. Winnebago County joined more than 1,400 counties across the country and one of 15 counties in Illinois, currently offering the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program.
Winnebago County has been a leader in Illinois in card utilization and cost saving for residents. Nationally, since the program's inception in 2007, participating counties across the country have saved their residents more than $400 million on the cost of their prescriptions.
Residents may pick up cards at several County offices and at over 60 other local community locations, or you may print a card on-line at: http://www.rxprintacard.biz/naco/.
For more information on the NACo prescription drug card program in Winnebago County click here.
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2011-2012 Flu Season | |
It's Not To Late To Get a Flu Shot
The single best way to prevent the flu is by getting your annual flu vaccination, especially before the usual winter peak in flu activity (late-January through March). However, as long as flu season isn't over, it's not too late to get vaccinated. By being vaccinated you can protect yourself from influenza and may also help to avoid spreading it to others.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Winnebago County Health Department recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. The flu vaccine is the best way modern medicine currently has to protect against this serious disease.
For flu prevention and educational information, or how to make an appointment for a flu vaccination click here.
Each week the Winnebago County Health Department tracks flu illnesses in Winnebago County. The Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report is updated every Friday with current influenza activity in Winnebago County. |
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2.8 Million Dollar Lead Prevention Grant From HUD | |
Lead Mitigation: Creating Lead Safe Rockford Grant
The Centers for Disease Control states that approximately 250,000 U.S. children aged 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. In order to address this threat, this year, the Winnebago County Health Department was awarded a highly competitive grant of $2.88 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to mitigate lead-based paint hazards in Winnebago County. Especially targeted are zip codes through 61101 - 61104 and 61107, which are rated as among the highest in the state of Illinois for pediatric blood lead poisoning (over 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood).
Through this program called 'Creating Lead Safe Rockford' the Winnebago County Health Department and its partners will work to mitigate lead hazards in at least 200 low to moderate income homes, both rental and owner-occupied. In a prior three year grant from 2007 thru 2009 the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) was funded to mitigate lead hazards in 100 houses. WCHD exceeded expectations by mitigating lead in 125 houses for the same funding provided to mitigate 100 houses.
Applications for consideration of houses for lead mitigation thru this program are anticipated to be accepted starting in January 2012. Details on how to apply will be forthcoming. This lead mitigation program will be staffed by WCHD's Pollution Control Supervisor Todd Marshall; Lead Program Coordinator Dana Hoefle; Lead Inspector Jim Hilliger, and Rehabilitation Specialist Ryan Kerch.
For program information call 815-720-4130, or visit www.wchd.org.
For the ripple effects of of childhood lead poisoning click here.
For more information from CDC on lead poisoning prevention go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/. |
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Whooping Cough Resurgence | |
Increase in Northern Illinois Pertussis Cases
There has been a marked increase of pertussis cases (also known as "whooping cough") due to a series of outbreaks primarily concentrated in Cook County and the surrounding collar counties of Chicago. As of mid-December, over one-thousand cases have been reported statewide with the majority being reported in McHenry, DuPage, Cook and Lake Counties. Winnebago County Health Department is reporting 32 cases for 2011, but had 142 cases reported in 2010 with 40% of the cases reported, were found in children ages 10-14 years.
Pertussis is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, that can be spread from person to person. People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children. Many infants who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents or caregivers and it can be fatal, especially in infants.
Teens and adults can also have pertussis however, these complications are usually less severe in this age group, especially in those who have been vaccinated. Institutional outbreaks of pertussis are common. Outbreaks at middle and high schools can occur as protection from childhood vaccines fades. In school outbreaks, prophylaxis is recommended for close classroom and team contacts with the pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap) depending on age. In 2008, in Winnebago County we had a total of 48 cases. Most of which were clustered at a school in our area. The Winnebago County Health Department provided the pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap) to students and staff. In 2009 we only saw 4 cases of pertussis. As stated before, in 2010, we were in outbreak status with142 total cases.
To date in 2011 pertussis continues to be reported. In the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends DTaP vaccinations at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. then another between 15 and 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given before a child enters school, at 4-6 years of age. Finally, a booster at age 11.
New Pertussis Vaccination Requirement
Beginning with school year 2011-12, any child entering sixth grade shall show proof of receiving one dose of Tdap (defined as tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last DTaP, DT or Td dose. Also, students entering grades seven through 12 who have not already received Tdap are required to receive 1 Tdap dose regardless of the interval since the last DTaP, DT or Td dose.
Pertussis is a reportable disease to the Winnebago County Health Department. Please report any suspected cases to 815-720-4050.
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| Free Influenza Vaccination Clinic | |
Special Influenza Vaccination Clinic
For Local Residents In Need
Through a community collaborative effort, 140 Winnebago County residents who would not otherwise have been able to afford an influenza vaccination this year, obtained an early holiday gift of health. On October 28, 2011, a free vaccination clinic was held at the Rockford Food Pantry, and was made possible by the efforts of a many caring and generous local healthcare agencies. Rockford Memorial Hospital provided leadership and guidance, while the Winnebago County Health Department provided the coordination for logistics, while all three area hospitals donated flu vaccine. Rockford College provided nursing students, while the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Campus provided 2nd and 3rd year medical students and 2nd year Pharmacy students to administer the vaccinations.
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Pay Bills, Permits, Certificates and Licenses now Online | |
Introducing E-Pay
The Winnebago County Health Department announces customers now have the convenience to use e-pay for selected services. E-pay allows customers through their own computers to use Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit or debit cards to pay for permits, fees and birth/death certificates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "We want to provide our customers a more efficient and consumer-friendly option to apply for services along with an electronic on-line service for payments," said Larry Swacina, Director of the Center for Environmental Health Improvement, Winnebago County Health Department.
To find out more on how e-pay works, or to use the online payment option, go to the e-pay page located on the Winnebago County Health Department website. E-pay is a service offered by the Illinois State Treasurer's Office. |
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Public Health Facility At 555 North Court Street, Rockford, Illinois | |
New Public Health Facility Opened in
February 2011
On Monday February 7, 2011, Winnebago County and the Winnebago County Health Department jointly open a new service location at 555 North Court Street, Rockford, Illinois 61103.
This is a result of consolidating three separate Health Department service locations and merging those offices into the 555 North Court Street facility. "The acquisition and renovation of 555 North Court Street was a project in the works for over two years. I am pleased that Winnebago County now has another service site for our residents to receive multi-faceted health care. Mike Bacon and his staff at the Health Department do an excellent job assessing and meeting the health needs of our community," stated County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen. "The newly renovated space represents the first facility upgrade in over 32 years for local public health services. This location represents the Health Department's continuing efforts to provide integrated health services to Winnebago County residents. It provides a one-site source of related services, especially for maternal and child, health education and support," said Winnebago County Health Department Public Health Administrator, Mike Bacon. "The Department is also sharing this facility with seven existing tenants," added Bacon.
For more information on programs and services at WCHD at 555 North Court Street, go to www.wchd.org. |
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Renovation Nearly Complete At The Public Health Facility On Division Street | |
Upgrades nearing completion at 401 Division Street Public Health facility.
The Winnebago County Health Department heard from our clients through surveys that our Division Street facility needed a brighter more up-to- date look and feel, so last March after opening our North Court Street location, we did just that, we started on renovations to the building. In January, the updates will be complete with new office configurations, new lighting, and a fresh coat of paint, which will in turn serve our clients in a more efficient, client friendly, and caring atmosphere. The completion of the Division Street location will also allow the Department to close the last off-site location and move those offices into the building. It also completes the consolidation of services which began in 2009 to better integrate Public Health services for our clients. |
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Please visit our website at www.wchd.org for our Healthy Community Compass Archive Pages. You may also follow the Health Department on Facebook and Twitter. Contact Sue Fuller at sfuller@wchd.org for any suggestions on future articles or how we can improve our newsletter.
Contributing writers for this edition include: Daniel Reilly, Amanda Mehl, Lisa Sprecher, Todd Marshall, Larry Swacina, Mike Bacon and Sue Fuller. |
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