Health

Red Cross offers cooking safety tips for Thanksgiving chefs

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Monday, November 19th, 2012, 1:38pm

Red Cross offers cooking safety tips for Thanksgiving chefs

(KFVS) - The American Red Cross is offering some safety steps to use while preparing the Thanksgiving feast.

“We want folks to have a safe holiday,” said Chris Harmon, Chief Emergency Service Officer “We have steps they can follow to avoid ruining their holiday with a cooking fire.”

According to the Red Cross, the cooks should start by not wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. Never leave cooking food unattended, stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If someone must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, they should turn off the stove. Other safety steps include:

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Gov. Quinn proclaims Nov. 15 National Rural Health Day

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012, 2:26pm

Gov. Quinn proclaims Nov. 15 National Rural Health Day

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Public Health, along with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, will be celebrating the second National Rural Health Day in an effort to increase awareness of rural health-related issues.

Governor Pat Quinn proclaimed Nov. 15 National Rural Health Day in Illinois to encourage residents to recognize the unique health care needs and opportunities in Illinois' rural communities.

According to IDPH, approximately 62 million people, or almost one in five Americans, live in rural areas of the United States. That includes more than two million Illinois residents. Yet only nine percent of all physicians and 12 percent of all pharmacists practice in rural communities.

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Don't forget to change your clock, change your battery

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Friday, November 2nd, 2012, 3:50pm

Don't forget to change your clock, change your battery

(KFVS) - The International Association of Fire Chiefs is reminding residents to change their smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries when they change their clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

October is National Fire Prevention Month and the time will change Nov. 4. IAFC is partnering with Energizer in effort to save lives.

According to IAFC, a home without a working smoke detector can be hazardous, even deadly. They say 38 percent of all deadly fire injuries happen in homes without a working smoke detector.

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IAFC urges residents to change your clock, change your battery

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Saturday, October 27th, 2012, 12:00pm

IAFC urges residents to change your clock, change your battery

(KFVS) - The International Association of Fire Chiefs is reminding residents to change their smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries when they change their clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

October is National Fire Prevention Month and the time will change Nov. 4. IAFC is partnering with Energizer in effort to save lives.

According to IAFC, a home without a working smoke detector can be hazardous, even deadly. They say 38 percent of all deadly fire injuries happen in homes without a working smoke detector.

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Peanut butter recalled after salmonella outbreak

Submitted by Jen Baird on Wednesday, September 26th, 11:12 am

SPRINGFIELD, IL (KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning Illinois residents to not eat Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter or peanut butter and other products that has nuts and seeds from Sunland, Inc.

Both companies have issued voluntary recalls after preliminary results from a multi-state outbreak investigation of salmonella show these products may be the source of the outbreak.

IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the investigation of the outbreak which has affected 30 people in 19 states, including one case in central Illinois.

Those who are reporting to be sick range in age from 1 to 77 years and first became ill from June 11 to September 11 of this year. About 63 percent of people who have become sick are under the age of 10. Four people have been hospitalized.

There have been no deaths reported so far.

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Red Cross: Donate blood for National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Submitted by James Long, Digital Content Producer

Saturday, September 1st, 2012, 10:00am

Red Cross: Donate blood for National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - The American Red Cross wants you to help meet the needs of patients by donating blood during September, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.

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IDPH reminds parents to schedule back-to-school dental exams for children

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Thursday, August 9th, 2012, 11:57am

IDPH reminds parents to schedule back-to-school dental exams for children

(KFVS) - With a new school season approaching, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding parents and caregivers that August is a good time to schedule dental exams for children.

IDPH will have free dental screenings during the weekdays at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield from Aug. 9-19.

Illinois law requires schoolchildren entering kindergarten, second and sixth grades to have a dental examination prior to the start of the school year, although yearly dental exams are encouraged for all schoolchildren.

“During my recent statewide tour, access to oral health was a primary concern in many communities.” said IDPH Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. “Healthy teeth are an important part of overall health and we want every child in Illinois to have a healthy start to the new school year.”

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