Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Home: Part 1

The Center for Disease Control reports that over 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning every year, typically in their home or car. Many of these deaths occur during the winter months. These are the months when people heat their homes while minimizing outside ventilation. Although CO levels may not prove high enough to be fatal, they can still result in serious illnesses. CO poisonings account for nearly 50,000 visits to hospital emergency departments each year.

2022-04-25T12:51:10-05:00March 29, 2022|
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With Sharp Drop in Demand, Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites to End Operations March 31

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that in response to a sharp drop in the demand for COVID-19 testing services at the ten Community-Based Testing Sites and the anticipated end of federal funding, operations at the locations will end on March 31. IDPH previewed that operations would be winding down when the mask mandate was lifted and has seen traffic at the sites – which carried out more than 1.5 million tests in total throughout their operation – drop precipitously in recent weeks. The sites are currently handling less than one percent of the tests being conducted statewide.

2022-03-28T10:20:03-05:00March 28, 2022|
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National Poison Prevention Week: March 20-26, 2022

National Poison Prevention Week is observed the third week of March every year. Congress established the observance in 1961 to highlight the risks of being poisoned by household products. Although we’ve made substantial progress since the early 1970s, over 2 million poisonings are reported in the U.S. every year. What may surprise you is that over 90% of these occur in the home, and those affected most often are children under the age of 12.

2022-04-25T12:52:12-05:00March 23, 2022|
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Illinois Department of Public Health Adds New COVID-19 Treatment for Distribution Across Illinois

As a new COVID-19 treatment rolls out across the country, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to distribute these life-saving therapeutics equitably across the state.  On February 11, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for a new monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab, for the treatment of COVID-19. 

2022-02-23T10:52:17-06:00February 23, 2022|
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Gov. Pritzker Announces Illinois Plan to Lift Statewide Indoor Mask Requirement on Monday, February 28

With statewide COVID-19 hospitalization rates declining faster than any other point in the pandemic, Illinois is on track to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement on Monday, February 28, 2022. Mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transit and in high-risk settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care.

2022-02-14T14:50:12-06:00February 14, 2022|
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Illinois Department of Public Health Announces COVID-19 Antivirals Available in the Coming Weeks

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is announcing two new COVID-19 oral antivirals, Paxlovid (Pfizer) and Molnupiravir (Merck), will be available in Illinois later this month. The antivirals are for those with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for becoming severely ill, including hospitalization or death.

2022-01-19T17:21:42-06:00January 18, 2022|
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