Schuyler County Health Department

06/13/2026

A quick reminder that toddlers and preschoolers have a harder time regulating their body temperatures, especially in hot weather. It's really important to make sure they're staying hydrated by offering water regularly, even if they're not asking for it.

When it comes to drinks, fluoridated water (whether from a bottle or the tap) is the best option for little ones between meals as it can help prevent tooth decay. So let's all remember to keep those water breaks coming during playtime! 🌞💧👶🏽

06/12/2026

Food Guide

06/11/2026

As summer pool season picks up, here are some key tips for staying healthy in the water:
- Avoid swimming with diarrhea within the last two weeks and inform pool staff if there are any accidents.
- Refrain from swallowing pool water to prevent ingesting harmful bacteria.
- Take regular bathroom breaks, especially with children, to avoid accidents.
- Change diapers away from the pool area to prevent spreading bacteria.
- Shower before swimming to wash off dirt, sweat, and germs. Stay safe and healthy during pool season!

06/11/2026

https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes With tornado warnings in the area, check out the emergency preparedness website for tornado facts and what to do in an emergency.

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 9 PM tonight. Look for a thunderstorm activity to increase across west-central Illinois late this afternoon. Storms are expected to develop into a line of storms by early evening west of the Illinois River and push east/southeast through the evening hours. Several tornadoes are possible today in addition to large hail, damaging winds, and localized flooding. Stay weather aware!

06/11/2026

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 9 PM tonight. Look for a thunderstorm activity to increase across west-central Illinois late this afternoon. Storms are expected to develop into a line of storms by early evening west of the Illinois River and push east/southeast through the evening hours. Several tornadoes are possible today in addition to large hail, damaging winds, and localized flooding. Stay weather aware!

06/10/2026

🍼☀️ Make Room for the Popsicles This Summer! ☀️🍼

Is your freezer overflowing with extra breast milk? Consider making room for those summer popsicles by donating your stored milk to help babies in need!

The Schuyler County Health Department is a milk drop-off site for the Mother’s Milk Bank. Donated breast milk helps provide nourishment to premature and medically fragile infants when their own mother’s milk is unavailable.

✨ Safe
✨ Simple
✨ Life-saving

Learn more about becoming a donor below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18vjK3pmwm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/09/2026

Older farmers are more likely to develop dementia, which can increase their risk of injuries - especially on farms and ranches. Even those with memory problems who just live on a farm, not work on it, can be at risk. While there are general resources for farm and home safety, there aren’t any programs that focus on the specific challenges of dementia in farming communities. Caring for someone with dementia in these areas can also be especially tough on families.

To fill this gap, researchers from the University of Iowa and University of Illinois Chicago teamed up with local experts to create Farm Families Coping with Dementia (FFCD). FFCD is a free, 4-week online educational series created to support family members of individuals living or working on or near farms who may be showing signs of memory loss or confusion. The program includes four weekly 1-hour Zoom sessions delivered by Illinois Extension educators:

1. Dementia Basics
2. Farm Safety and Dementia
3. Improving safety with Dementia
4. Caregiving and communication

You can find more information at their website: https://gpcah.public-health.uiowa.edu/dementia-educational/.

06/08/2026

Meet the Tick: Lone Star Tick Edition ⭐
🏷️ Name: Lone Star Tick
🔬 Scientific Name: Amblyomma americanum

🔍 How to Spot It
Adult females have a distinctive white dot on their backs
Adult males have scattered white markings around the edges of their backs
Aggressive biters that actively seek hosts

📍 Found in Illinois?
✅ Yes! Lone Star ticks are present in Illinois and have become increasingly common in many parts of the state.

⚠️ Why They Matter
Lone Star ticks have been associated with:
Ehrlichiosis
Tularemia
Alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy linked to tick bites)

🛡️ Fight the Bite
Reduce your chances of a tick bite by:
✔ Using EPA-registered insect repellent
✔ Wearing long sleeves and long pants in tick habitat
✔ Performing a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors
✔ Checking children and pets for ticks
✔ Showering soon after coming indoors

💡 Did You Know?
Unlike some tick species that wait for hosts to pass by, Lone Star ticks can actively move toward people and animals after detecting body heat, movement, and carbon dioxide.

06/05/2026

Reminder to all food establishments in Schuyler County, you have till the end of June to renew your food license for the year. Please do not wait till the last minute because once it is July late fees are applied to all late renewal forms.

Have questions or concerns? Contact Environmental Health at 217-322-6775.

06/04/2026

More than half of those who quit with the Illinois To***co Quitline report they would not be tobacco-free without our help. Call 1-866-QUIT-YES, or visit https://bit.ly/3YoBUSC to see how we can help YOU quit successfully too.