|
January 2026 Public Health E-Newsletter |
|
A snapshot of Oak Park's health in 2025
Happy New Year from the Oak Park Public Health Department! One of our big goals for 2026 is completing our community health improvement plan, which is also called the IPLAN. To help build our plan, we surveyed 565 Oak Park residents last spring to ask about their health conditions, concerns, behaviors, and health care utilization and access.
Through that survey, we learned a lot about our community. Below are just a few interesting facts from the survey results!
.
.
.
.
.
What do you make of this data? Let us know what questions or ideas
you have at health@oak-park.us
|
|
 January is Radon Action Month
January is Radon Action Month, a time to raise awareness about radon—a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up indoors and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Because radon is colorless and odorless, the only way to know your level of exposure is to test your home. Radon Action Month encourages homeowners and renters to take this simple but important step to protect their health.
Radon action starts with testing, which is easy and affordable. Short-term radon test kits are widely available online, at hardware stores, or through local health departments. The test is typically placed in the lowest lived-in level of your home for a few days, then mailed to a lab for analysis. If results show radon levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L, action is recommended.
If high radon levels are found, radon remediation can effectively reduce them—often by up to 99%. The most common method involves installing a venting system and fan that pulls radon gas from beneath the home and safely releases it outside. A certified radon mitigation professional can assess your home and recommend the right solution, making radon action a practical and highly effective way to create a healthier indoor environment.
|
|
|
|
