Mason County Health Department - Illinois

06/05/2026

We’re so excited for the warm, sunny months! ☀️As you and your family start enjoying the sun and spending more time outside, we want to remind you about the importance of sun protection! 🧴

Here are some helpful tips to keep your little ones safe in the sun this summer:

🌴Instead of sunscreen, keep babies 6 months and under in shaded areas and use sun-protective clothing items to protect their skin.
👒Utilize sun-protection accessories like sunhats and sunglasses.
🧴Use baby-safe sunscreens with mineral filters to prevent skin irritation.
🏖️Reapply! Make sure you take breaks in outdoor play to reset and reapply sunscreen, especially after swimming.

Learn more about how to keep your family safe in the sun: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx

06/05/2026

Warm weather ✅
Fresh, in-season fruit for your berry-loving toddler ✅
Using your WIC fruit & veggie benefits to boost your produce budget ✅

Learn more about the latest WIC food package updates that allow for more flexibility and personalized options to fit your family’s needs: https://signupwic.com/news/wic-101-food-benefits-nutrition

06/03/2026

🦖 He thinks “Diphtheria” is the name of a dinosaur.
Vaccines help keep it that way. Protecting children from serious diseases means they get to stay focused on learning, playing, and being kids.

Call us at (309) 210-0110 for questions or to schedule an appointment.

06/02/2026

EDIT: As of 3:15pm 6/2/26, all Solutran processes are fully restored.

Illinois’ WIC processor is currently down statewide. Your WIC card will not work at any store throughout the state. The State of Illinois is actively working to resolve this as quickly as possible. MCHD is not able to help with this issue. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Updates will be posted on the IDHS website: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31907.

06/01/2026

📞 Need help but not sure where to start? Try 211.

Many people call us looking for help with food, housing, utilities, mental health services, healthcare access, caregiver support, and other community resources. One of the best places to start is 𝟐𝟏𝟏 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬.

✅ Available 24/7
📱 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟐𝟏𝟏
📩 Or 𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐙𝐈𝐏 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝟖𝟗𝟖𝟐𝟏𝟏
🔒 Free and confidential

211 Illinois helps connect individuals and families to local resources quickly and efficiently through a statewide network of support services. Because sometimes the hardest part is just figuring out who to call first.

05/31/2026

To***co and ni****ne companies deliberately design their products to hook you. Sugars, flavors, and cooling agents all mask the harshness of ni****ne so you inhale more, and get addicted faster. But the grip of addiction can be broken. And the benefits are felt almost immediately:

⏱️ In 20 minutes, your heart rate drops
🫁 2–12 weeks, your lung function improves
❤️ 1 year, your risk of heart disease is cut in half

The Illinois To***co Quitline offers free, confidential support, coaching, and quit aids.
📞 1-866-QUIT-YES (1-866-784-8937)
🌐 quityes.org

05/30/2026

Postpartum preeclampsia can happen up to six weeks postpartum. It's important that women pay attention to specific postpartum symptoms, including severe headache, vision changes, swelling of the hands and face, and especially difficulty breathing.

For more info, visit: http://www.stillatrisk.org

It's important to know that delivery is not the cure for preeclampsia. Any woman can develop preeclampsia after her baby is born, whether she experienced hig...

05/29/2026

🌡️☀️ Heat Safety Awareness Day

Central Illinois summer heat isn’t just hot—it’s the kind of humidity that makes walking to the mailbox feel like entering a slow cooker. High temperatures and humidity can quickly become dangerous, especially for older adults, young children, outdoor workers, and people with chronic health conditions.

Stay safe during extreme heat:
💧 Drink plenty of water
🧢 Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
🏠 Take breaks in air conditioning when possible
🚫 Never leave children or pets in vehicles
👀 Check on neighbors, friends, and family members

If the heat index is high, slow down and take it seriously. Your body is not a cast iron skillet, despite what Illinois weather seems determined to prove.

05/28/2026

🦟 Mosquitoes don’t need much water to breed. A bucket, flowerpot, old tire, clogged gutter, or even a bottle cap can become a mosquito nursery after rain. Tiny vampires. Tremendous ambition.

Help reduce mosquito breeding around your home:
✔️ Dump standing water at least once a week
✔️ Clean gutters and drains
✔️ Change water in birdbaths and pet bowls regularly
✔️ Store containers upside down when not in use
✔️ Keep pools and kiddie pools clean and treated

Fewer breeding sites mean fewer mosquitoes biting their way through summer.

05/27/2026

👑 She thinks “Rubella” is a magical princess. Vaccines help keep it that way. Vaccination helps protect children from serious illnesses so imagination can stay center stage.

Call us at (309) 210-0110 for questions or to schedule an appointment.