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August 2026 Public Health E-Newsletter |
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 National Immunization Awareness Month:
Protect Your Child Before School Starts
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a reminder that vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect children from serious diseases and help them grow into healthy adults. Childhood immunizations help prevent illnesses such as measles, whooping cough, polio and meningitis, while also protecting classmates, family members and others in the community who may be too young or unable to be vaccinated.
Before the new school year begins, make sure your child's vaccinations are up to date. Illinois requires students to meet immunization requirements before attending school, unless they qualify for an approved exemption.
One-page guides in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics:
If you are unsure if your child needs vaccines, you can ask their health care provider or check Illinois Vax Verify website (if the vaccines were received in Illinois).
Vaccination protects not only your child but also helps keep our entire community healthy.
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Successful Emergency Preparedness Exercise
Our Emergency Preparedness Coordinator has been working for months to help put together a multi-day, full-scale emergency management exercise to help community agencies prepare to work together in the event of a major safety incident.
The exercise took place August 3 and 4 and included the Village health, police and fire departments, school districts from Oak Park and River Forest, local hospitals, members of the Medical Reserve Corps, local volunteers and regional law enforcement agencies. It took place over the course of two days at Oak Park and River Forest High School and Percy Julian Middle School, where several active shooter, lockdown, evacuation and reunification scenarios were practiced.
This training exercise was designed to evaluate and strengthen emergency response plans, coordination among partner agencies and communication systems in a realistic, full-scale environment. Emergency preparedness and coordination is an important component of our public health infrastructure. Thank you to all who volunteered to help!
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Farmers' Market corn roast this weekend
Don't miss one of Oak Park's favorite summer traditions, the annual corn roast at the Oak Park Farmers' Market this weekend,Saturday, August 8! Roasted corn will be ready starting at 9 a.m. and will be sold until supplies run out, so we recommend arriving early.
As always, this fundraiser is CASH ONLY, so make sure to have cash on hand to get your $3 ears of corn. You can have your corn plain, or dipped in fresh butter provided by the Market vendors themselves. Salt and pepper stations are provided as well! This year's corn roast will once again be a zero-waste event, with all corn cobs, husks and take-away bags able to be composted.
The Oak Park Farmers' Market is located in the Pilgrim Church parking lot, 460 Lake St.
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Back to school means more pedestrians, cyclists and now, e-rides
As students head back to school later this month, we are reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert. Many Oak Park students walk or bike to school, making it especially important to watch for children at crosswalks, intersections and near school entrances.
Remember to:
- Obey school zone speed limits
- Stop for crossing guards and pedestrians
- Avoid distracted driving
- Never pass a vehicle stopped for children crossing the street
A few extra seconds of caution can help ensure every student arrives safely at school and back home each day.
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Biking is a great option for getting to school, and we want to make sure our young people are as safe as possible while doing so. To help middle schoolers learn the Rules of the Road and ride safely to school, Bike Walk Oak Park is hosting several practice rides for middle schoolers on Monday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. (Rain date scheduled for Tuesday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m.)
RSVP for the ride here.
Licensed cycling instructors and members of Bike Walk Oak Park will lead bike rides from the blacktops of the following elementary schools to the students' assigned middle school, and back to the blacktop where they started.
- Beye
- Holmes
- Lincoln
- Longfellow
- Whittier
Parents are welcome to join the ride, and there will be a popsicle break at the middle schools!
Don't see your school and want to help organize a ride? Contact Bike Walk Oak Park at bikewalkoakpark.@gmail.com
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Be E-Ride Ready: Ride Smart, Ride Safe
E-bikes, e-scooters, electric skateboards and other e-rides are becoming an increasingly popular way to travel around Oak Park. They offer a convenient, affordable and environmentally friendly transportation option, but they also travel faster than traditional bicycles and can cause more serious injuries in a crash, leading to increased ER admissions and surgeries after bicycle crashes.
Whether you're a rider, a parent or a driver sharing the road, everyone plays a role in keeping our streets safe.
Five steps to ride safely
🪖 Protect your head
Always wear a properly fitted helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries in a crash.
🚲 Never ride on the sidewalk
E-rides are not permitted on sidewalks anywhere in Oak Park. Whenever possible, use bike lanes or neighborhood greenways to improve safety and reduce conflicts with pedestrians and vehicles.
🚦 Follow the rules of the road
Obey traffic signs and signals, ride predictably and use safe riding practices when navigating intersections and sharing the road with others.
👤 One rider per device
Most e-bikes and e-scooters are designed for one rider. Carrying a passenger affects balance, steering and braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
⚠️ Know the risks
Because e-rides are heavier and can travel up to 28 mph, crashes often result in more severe injuries than those involving traditional bicycles. Riding responsibly helps protect you and everyone around you.
Know the law
To improve safety, Oak Park's e-ride regulations include several important requirements:
- Riders under the age of 15 may not operate an e-ride.
- E-rides used at night must be equipped with working lights and reflectors.
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E-rides are prohibited on all sidewalks throughout the Village.
As more people choose e-rides for transportation and recreation, following these simple safety practices can help prevent injuries and keep Oak Park's streets safe for everyone.
Though we often associate communicable disease with wintertime, sickness can spread in the summer, too. Outbreaks of both rare and common diseases have taken place this summer. Where are these ailments coming from and what is the risk to us here in Oak Park and Illinois? Our quarterly epidemiology report breaks it down for you. Here are some highlights:
Cyclosporiasis
You cannot avoid the headlines about explosive diarrhea this summer, a symptom of cyclosporiasis, which also can cause cramping, loss of appetite, fatigue, bloating, gas and nausea. The United States is experiencing a cyclosporiasis outbreak, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting more cases of this illness in the U.S. than in any previous year. Illinois is one of 15 states included in this national outbreak as of early August. The good news? Cyclosporiasis is rarely fatal and easily treatable with medication. This illness is not spread from person-to-person, but through ingestion of the parasite cyclospora, which itself is spread through contaminated food or water. The culprit this year has been thought to be contaminated lettuce distributed nationwide by large-scale producers, but the sources of this outbreak are still under investigation. Previous U.S. outbreaks were linked to basil, cilantro, snow peas, raspberries, mesclun and romaine lettuce
What's the best way to ensure you and your family do not ingest this parasite? Cook any produce you eat or serve to 158°F. This is the only method guaranteed to kill the parasite. Washing produce can help, but is not guaranteed to rid your produce of parasites.
West Nile
With August in Illinois comes the possible circulation of West Nile virus, a disease spread by mosquitos. Oak Park is a member of the Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District, which provides regular tests of mosquito traps in Oak Park for the presence of West Nile. Thirteen traps have tested positive for the virus so far this year, so there are mosquitos in Oak Park carrying this disease. What can you do to decrease the likelihood of contracting West Nile this summer?
- Use insect repellent that contains DEET or Picaridin
- Avoid outdoor activities around dusk when mosquitos are most active
- Inspect and repair any holes in window screens, around air conditioning units, or clothes dryer vents to prevent mosquitos from entering the home
- Clear any sources of standing water, including gutters/downspouts, bird baths, kids’ pools, buckets, trash cans, wheelbarrows and rimless tires
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Thanks for helping us rock the (Open) House!
We had so much fun welcoming more than 50 community members to our open house on July 30 at the Oak Park Public Library. People stopped by to meet our staff, learn about our seven divisions - including the Oak Park Farmers' Market - and our many programs, and discover all of the different ways we work to protect and promote the health of our community.
Guests also enjoyed refreshments, giveaways and a slideshow featuring photos and milestones from the our rich history since our founding in 1902. We appreciate everyone who joined us and look forward to continuing to connect with the community through future events and programs.
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