Peoria City/County Health Department

06/12/2026

⚡ Power Outage Food Safety: Keep It or Toss It?

When the power goes out, keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed is one of the most important things you can do to protect your food.

Many factors affect how long food stays safe, including the age and temperature setting of your refrigerator, how full it is, and how long the power is out.

Once power is restored, check the temperature of your food as soon as possible. The best way to do this is by using a metal stem thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the food itself. Perishable foods should be discarded if they have been above 41°F for more than 4 hours.

Not sure what to throw away?

👎 Toss:
Meat, poultry, seafood
Milk, cream, coffee creamer
Eggs and egg products
Cheese, butter, and yogurt
Lunch meat and hotdogs
Leftovers
Cooked pasta, rice, and potatoes
Sauces purchased refrigerated
Homemade dressings
Tofu and other plant based meat alternatives
Cut melon, cut tomatoes, cut lettuce (including bagged lettuce), sprouts
Cooked fruits and vegetables

👍 Keep:
Raw fruits and vegetables; whole or cut (unless listed on the toss list)
Jams and jelly
Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, mayo
Grated Parmesan cheese
Commercially packaged dressings (unless purchased refrigerated)
Margarine
Juices (unless purchased refrigerated)

When in doubt, throw it out. Food that looks and smells normal can still contain harmful bacteria if it has been kept at unsafe temperatures.

Stay safe, and contact the Peoria City/County Health Department at (309) 679-6161, [email protected], or comment below if you have questions.

06/11/2026

In extreme heat, dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.

06/10/2026

Get Summer Ready! When hot weather is predicted, plan ahead to beat the heat!

❄ Identify cooling centers in your area at https://bit.ly/4xpz2pC

🚪 Weatherize your home to lower cooling costs

💧 Drink fluids regularly to avoid getting dehydrated and overheated

😎 If outdoors, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool down

👕 Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothing

💦 Carry water if you will be outside

🐶 NEVER leave children or pets alone in hot vehicles

https://www.ready.gov/summer-ready

06/08/2026

Thank you to Woodruff CTC for their great work on the planter boxes! 🌱

Mr. Anderson's Construction Class students built raised garden beds...

06/07/2026

Food safety is everyone’s responsibility. This , check your habits: Are you washing your hands? Cooking to the right temp? Let’s protect our families — one meal at a time! Learn more: fightbac.org

06/06/2026

Want to learn more about outdoor warning sirens in Peoria County? We've got the thing just for you.

Join us at the Peoria County Outdoor Warning Siren Workshop at the Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District's Lake Camelot Fire Station on Thursday, June 9 at 6 p.m.

Join us as we:
🔊 Review current siren locations and coverage areas
🗓️ Discuss testing procedures and schedules
🧠 Clarify activation protocols and decision-making processes
🛠️ Share maintenance standards and responsibilities

06/03/2026

💲 $2,000 sign on bonus for part time
💲 $4,000 sign on bonus for full time
💲5% increase after successfully completing probationary period

Are you a compassionate, community-driven nurse looking to create a lasting impact beyond the bedside? Join our team as a Public Health Nurse and help improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities in Peoria County.

These positions have an hourly pay rate range of $30.34-$33.37. Full-time employee benefits include but are not limited to:
🎄 10 paid holidays
😷 12 paid sick days a year
🌴 2 weeks of paid vacation in the first year
🕔 A Monday-Friday work schedule with core hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
🎓 Tuition reimbursement
👪 Paid parental leave
⚕️ Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision
🪙 Retirement Plan (IMRF)

Learn more at https://www.pcchd.org/170/Working-at-PCCHD

06/02/2026

Care doesn’t happen alone.

Men’s health is shaped by relationships - partners, families, caregivers, friends, and communities at every stage of life.

When men are supported via connection, education, and shared advocacy, they seek care, stay engaged, and live healthier, longer lives.

This Men’s Health Month, we’re recognizing care as a partnership - because stronger connections lead to strong health outcomes.

www.MensHealthMonth.org

05/29/2026

In honor of Lyme disease awareness month here are the proper steps to remove ticks.
Because ticks can carry Lyme disease (as well as other tick-borne illnesses) it is imperative to remove them as soon as they are found. Removing ticks within the first 24 hours can drastically reduce the chances of contracting Lyme disease. If you are unsure of how long a tick may have been attached or if you feel any symptoms of Lyme disease, please contact your physician and/or veterinarian as Lyme disease can affect your pets as well.

How to remove a tick

1. Using tweezer grasp the tick close to the skin’s surface but avoid squeezing the tick’s body. If tweezers are unavailable, you may use your fingers.
2. With steady even pressure, pull the tick away from the skin but do no twist, jerk, or burn.
3. To dispose of a live tick to not crush the tick. Wrap it tightly in tape; put it in alcohol; put it in a sealed container, or flush it down the toilet to dispose of tick.
4. Clean bite area and hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer.
Carefully check your body for other ticks and remove them promptly

Caution

Do not use substances to try to detach ticks from your skin. Such as alcohol, nail polish, heat, petroleum jelly.

For more information on public health issues pertaining to mosquitoes and ticks, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department's website at https://www.pcchd.org/157/Pests-Nuisances or contact us at 309-679-6161