General Blog

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and their First Choice Healthcare Clinics note that, according to a report from the Home Safety Council, drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury and related death.  Drowning incidents may involve any source of standing water, including swimming pools, spas, buckets, bathtubs and toilets.

"Drowning is a sudden and silent danger," notes the Home Safety Council.  "Since drowning victims do not make any noise once in distress, constant supervision around any body of water is critical and the best method of prevention."

The Health Department urges families to take the following basic safety precautions around water outdoors and in-home.

• Always practice constant adult supervision around any body of water.

Older children should not be left in charge of younger children in the pool area.

• Install four-sided fencing that isolates the pool from the home.

Four-sided pool fencing is proven to be an effective drowning prevention intervention.  While many communities have codes or regulations that require some form of pool fencing, there is not a consistent national standard.

• Pool fencing should be a least five feet high and have self-locking and self-closing gates.
• Position gate latches out of the reach of young children.
• Never prop the gate open or disable the latch.
• Clear debris, clutter and pool toys from the pool deck and adjoining pathways to prevent falls.
• Keep a cordless, water resistant telephone in the pool area and post emergency numbers near the pool area.
• Enroll non-swimmers in swimming lessons taught by a qualified instructor.  Pediatricians recommend that children ages 5 and older learn how to swim.
• Never swim alone.  Even adults should always swim with a buddy.
• Learn and practice the basic lifesaving techniques, including First Aid and CPR.  Insist that anyone who care for your children learn CPR.  
• Keep poolside rescue equipment close to the pool area.
• Post emergency numbers and CPR instructions prominently near the pool area.

The Health Department and our First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Colona encourage everyone to follow these important water safety guidelines to ensure that everyone has a fun and safe summer swimming season.  You can also find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or Follow Us On Twitter and Instagram.

CAPTION FOR ATTACHED PHOTO: The staff of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments don their “I Am Public Health” T-Shirts in celebration of May 11, 2023 designated by the Governor as Illinois Public Health Heroes’ Day.  May 11th marks the end of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration.  

The Henry and Stark County Health Department and Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) reminds area residents that on May 11, 2023 the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ends.  Therefore, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health have declared May 11, 2023 as Illinois Public Health Heroes’ Day.

Duane Stevens, Henry and Stark County Health Department Public Health Administrator states, “We should all pause and give heartfelt thanks today, after more than three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, to all those public health and health care heroes who rose to the challenge and risked their own lives to protect the rest of us from the deadly virus. When so many were locking down and staying safe at home, those heroes were on the front lines. They were administering tests, caring for the sick that filled our hospitals, and staffing vaccine clinics that offered us protection from sickness. We owe every one of them a huge debt of gratitude.” 

“During the very darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, our public health and health care heroes risked their own lives to care for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans in hospitals across the state at a time when our ICU wards were being overwhelmed,” adds Governor Pritzker. “And once the life-saving vaccines were developed and made available, thousands of IDPH and local health department heroes as well health care heroes across the state mobilized to deliver more than 26 million, life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations to people in every corner of the state.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra states, “It is fitting today as we formally end the Public Health Emergency that we pause to reflect on the truly heroic efforts of the thousands of public health workers, including those at IDPH and in our local health departments, as well as the healthcare workers in our hospitals and clinics. Their bravery and fortitude in the face of this overwhelming public health crisis is a gift to cherish and appreciate.  As we write the next chapters in the story of public health in Illinois, we look forward to their continued leadership and guidance to help address inequities and promote health throughout our great State.” 

Stevens concludes, “This does not mean Covid-19 has disappeared – it is still active in the state causing hospitalizations and deaths every week.  Rest assured the Henry & Stark County Health Departments and the Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will stay vigilant and continue to track the impacts of the virus.  However, today is a great day and we ask all local residents to join us in celebrating our Health Department and OEM Public Health Heroes!”

Click to watch a special video honoring our Public Health Heroes!

CAPTION FOR ATTACHED PHOTO: Duane Stevens, Public Health Administrator with the Henry and Stark County Health Departments presents retiring Henry County Health Board member, Dr. Art Cajigal of Alpha (right) with a service award.  Cajigal is leaving the Health Board after a total of 24 years of service.

 Duane Stevens, Public Health Administrator with the Henry and Stark County Health Departments, and the members of the Henry County Health Board recently honored retiring Health Board Member, Dr. Art Cajigal of Alpha for his 24 years of service to the citizens of Henry County.  

Jan Berghult, Henry County Health Board President, notes "Dr, Cajigal has been devoted to the community; and has given 24 years of service to the Henry County Board of Health and the betterment of health services to Henry County citizens.  His tenure of service to the Health Board, his personal practice, and his service in the US Medical Reserve has been and will always be sincerely appreciated."  

Stevens adds, "Dr. Art Cajigal has been a devoted member of the Henry County Health Board.  He served on the Health Board from 1999-2023.  Dr. Cajigal has been a wonderful advocate for the health of all Henry County residents.  I will personally miss working with him."

The Henry County Health Board consists of 2 physicians; 1 dentist; 1 county board member; and 4 other residents of the county with an interest in the county's health needs.  The Health Board meets quarterly and members serve with no compensation.

 For more information on the Henry County Health Department call the Department at (309) 852-0197.  You can also find us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter.