One piece of mail you need to read
While your eyes may glaze over when you sort through your mail, there's a letter coming from the Lake County Health Department next week that you won't want to ignore -- because it could save your life.
What it's about
Officials want you to know that if there's a public health emergency, such as pandemic flu or some other illness outbreak or bioterrorism attack, residents will need to find a nearby polling place. That could be your municipality or township office, area libraries, schools, churches, etc. The health department will use the county's 160 polling places to distribute medication to the masses in a crisis situation.
What you'll get
Letters will arrive at 270,000 Lake County households just before Thanksgiving. Look for an envelope with a window displaying a magnet reading: "Preparedness starts with you." The flier inside gives step-by-step instructions on familiarizing yourself with your polling place; provides information on emergency kits, tips on how you can be prepared; and gives a pandemic flu update. Fliers will be distributed in English and Spanish.
What's the plan?
In an emergency, the health department should receive antibiotics shipments from the strategic national stockpile within 12 hours. Officials believe they can distribute the medication to the county's roughly 704,000 residents within 48 hours.
Why polling places?
Officials say that's the easiest way to reach the entire county population. The 160 sites are spread out, so there's one close to everyone. This should reduce public anxiety and the need to travel far, and alleviate congestion at any one location.
Who should go
One person, preferably the head of a household, should pick up medicines for their family from the polling site.
Missed the mailing?
Don't worry. Fliers will be available at all county polling locations during the February election.
What businesses should do
Large and mid-size corporations and businesses in Lake County would be able to receive stockpiles of antibiotics to distribute to their employees and their family members.
What you should do
If you don't know your polling place, call the Lake County clerk's office at (847) 377-2421 or follow the link on the health department's Web site, www.co.lake.il.us/health, to look up a polling site.
Tips to be prepared
• Individuals and businesses should start making emergency plans.
• Wash your hands.
• Cover your cough.
• Get your flu shot.
• Stay home if you're sick.
Source: The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center