Randolph County Health Department-IL

04/23/2026

Homes built before 1978 may come with a hidden risk: lead dust. But the good news? A few smart cleaning habits can go a long way in protecting your family.

Keeping your home lead-safe doesn’t mean working harder, it means cleaning smarter. Wet-wiping surfaces, mopping floors regularly, and paying extra attention to windowsills and high-traffic areas can help keep harmful dust under control.

Think of it as a simple checklist for a healthier home:
✔️ Damp dust instead of dry dusting
✔️ Mop, don’t sweep
✔️ Wash hands and toys often
✔️ Leave shoes at the door

04/21/2026

Spring means families are spending more time outside, and more time in the dirt.

If your home was built before 1978, it’s important to be aware that soil can sometimes contain high traces of lead, especially near older structures. Areas where grass won’t grow or bare spots that stick around may be worth a closer look.

A few practical habits can help reduce exposure for kids:
✔️ Have children wash hands after playing outside
✔️ Clean under nails where dirt can collect
✔️ Remove shoes when coming indoors
✔️ Change out of play clothes after outdoor time
✔️ Be mindful of bare soil areas

Outdoor play matters, and these simple steps help keep kids safe and healthy.

04/16/2026

IDPH has updated its Fish Advisory Map. There are updates that pertain to Randolph County bodies of water. Including Mary's River, Randolph County Lake, and the Mississippi River.

More Information can be found here: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/toxicology/fish-advisories/map.html

🎣 Before you cook your catch, check the advisory.

Each year, we test fish from waterways across the state for contaminants like PFAS, PCBs, and mercury. Based on the results, we issue fish consumption advisories to help people know how often fish can be safely eaten.

This year’s update includes new guidance for PFOS, a type of PFAS chemical. As a result, some fish from certain waterways now have new consumption limits. For example, largemouth bass from Campus Lake (SIU–Carbondale) and Monee Reservoir should not be eaten.

A statewide mercury advisory also remains in place. Children under 15 and people who are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant should eat predatory fish like bass, walleye, and salmon no more than once per week.

IDPH’s interactive Fish Advisory Map provides guidance for 100+ Illinois lakes, rivers, and reservoirs so anglers can quickly check recommendations for the water where they’re fishing.

🔗 Learn more and check the map: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/toxicology/fish-advisories.html

04/09/2026

04/07/2026

Smoking is distracting. Refocus your mind by quitting. Visit https://bit.ly/4q8vCm7 to see if you're eligible to get free ni****ne patches, lozenges, or gum to start your quit.

04/06/2026

Join us in Sparta, IL tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. for Severe Storm Spotter Training! There only a few more opportunities remaining. For the full schedule, visit weather.gov/lsx/spottertalks We look forward to seeing you there!

04/06/2026

Today is the start of National Public Health Week! The theme for this year is "Ready. Set. Action!"

04/06/2026

April is National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

If you are a woman ages 21-64, you may be eligible for free breast and cervical cancer screenings -- including mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams, and Pap tests -- through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. If you’re younger and have symptoms, you may qualify too. Even if you're uninsured or underinsured, we can help you get screened.

At JCHD, we also offer one-on-one support for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer and their caregivers. Our patient navigators can help coordinate appointments, explain treatment and next steps, and connect clients to resources like transportation and financial assistance. This program is available at no cost to residents of Jackson, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, and Washington Counties.

Visit jchdonline.org or call 618-684-3143 to learn more about how we can help!

03/27/2026

Be aware this

Ticks live close to the ground where there is tall grass, shrubs, and leaves. They wait for an animal or human to walk by to grab on to. You may come in close contact with ticks while doing outdoor activities in tick habitats, like camping, fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting, or walking your dog. 🍄🥾🌲

Wear insect repellant that contains DEET and stay out of wooded areas and places with tall grass and weeds. If you go where ticks live, wear long sleeves, long pants, and walk in the center of trails. When you come back inside, check yourself (and your pets) for ticks. 🌾

03/23/2026

March 23-27 is Illinois Tick Bite Prevention Week! Morels will be popping up soon, but that also means that Ticks will be on the move. Removing ticks within a 24-hour period reduces the risk of potential disease transmission.

For more information on ticks in the area, please visit the IDPH Tick Surveillance Mapping Application:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/26e3d88ec699400ea4324272a43a49cb/