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November 2026 Public Health E-Newsletter |
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Keep food out of the danger zone this Thanksgiving
Don't let food-borne illnesses crash your Thanksgiving this year! The last thing anyone wants after a day spent celebrating with family and friends is the unwelcome symptoms of food poisoning. When preparing and serving food for a crowd, be especially careful when hosting those who are most at risk: Children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.
Our hosting tip? Remember: "clean, separate, cook and chill."
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Clean: Wash your hands and food preparation surfaces often.
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Separate: Keep raw meat separate from other foods, like produce, cheese and bread.
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Cook: Cook everything to the correct internal temperature.
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Chill: Never leave perishable food out for more than two hours (or one hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
Your guests will be extra grateful when you follow these food safety guidelines! Read more at FoodSafety.gov.
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Opioid overdose response training on November 14
Our last opioid overdose response training of 2026 is on Saturday, November 14 from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center (CRC) at 229 Madison St. This training is open to all community members and covers the signs of opioid overdose and what to do if you encounter a person who is overdosing. All training participants are given naloxone nasal spray to take with them. Click here to register for the training.
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GOvember
Local running store Lively Athletics' GOvember is back! Explore Oak Park one street at a time during this annual community challenge. Choose a level, download the official map and run or walk your route throughout November.
Levels include:
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The Ernest Hemingway
Cover Oak Park's east/west streets. 40 miles
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The Betty White
Cover Oak Park's north/south streets.
70 miles
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The Ludacris
Run or walk every street, including the perimeter. Biking option: cover all interior streets, excluding the perimeter.
~140 miles
We love this annual challenge that brings together movement, fun and community!
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Biodiversity, green infrastructure and health
Oak Park’s Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Plan, which was adopted by the Village Board on August 26, establishes a community-wide vision for protecting and enhancing natural areas, expanding green infrastructure and maintaining the Village’s tree canopy.
In addition to protecting biodiversity and strengthening environmental resilience, the plan supports public health by addressing environmental conditions that influence health and well-being. Maintaining tree canopy and expanding green infrastructure can help reduce extreme heat, improve air quality, manage stormwater and support healthier ecosystems. Access to green spaces also provides opportunities for physical activity, recreation, stress reduction and social connection, benefiting both physical and mental health.
Equitable implementation is essential to ensure that all Oak Park residents and neighborhoods benefit from these improvements, regardless of income or location. The Public Health Department looks forward to working with the Office of Sustainability and Resilience to advance this shared vision, promote healthy environments, strengthen community resilience and improve quality of life for all Oak Park residents.
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In case you missed it ...
We had so much fun representing the Village of Oak Park at the annual trunk or treat event hosted by the Park District of Oak Park October 23. Department staff dressed as surgeons and gave out candy and small toys from a life-sized Operation game table, complete with a light-up nose! More than 500 trunk-or-treaters came in costume to join the fun and visit local organizations’ displays to collect treats and celebrate spooky season. We’re already looking forward to next year!
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Changing global health landscape hits home
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the global health landscape is changing, with people living longer but facing growing challenges from chronic diseases and other health conditions. Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, nearly returning to the pre-pandemic level of 73.4 years in 2019. However, healthy life expectancy, which is the number of years people can expect to live in good health, has recovered more slowly, remaining below its pre-pandemic level. These trends highlight the importance of addressing not only how long people live, but also their health and quality of life as they age.
For Oak Park, these findings reinforce the importance of addressing the upstream factors that shape health outcomes and well-being across the lifespan. Ensuring equity in health outcomes is the focus of Oak Park’s five-year Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan (IPLAN). Social determinants of health, including access to safe and healthy environments, affordable and accessible medical and mental health care, and policies that support health and well-being, play a critical role in shaping health outcomes.
By working locally to address systemic barriers, reduce disparities and ensure that all residents have the resources, opportunities and support they need to achieve their best possible health, the Public Health Department and our community partners can help prevent illness, promote healthy aging and improve quality of life throughout the community.
When everyone gets what they need to thrive, the whole community benefits. Oak Park’s commitment to health equity recognizes that the goal is not simply to increase the number of years people live, but to ensure those years are healthy, fulfilling and supported by the conditions everyone needs to thrive.
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Thank you, readers!
During this month of Thanksgiving, we wanted to share our gratitude for all Health Beat readers! We appreciate your time and investment in the public health of our community. We are looking forward to engaging with you in the year ahead as we implement our community health improvement plan and continue all of our core services as well. Happy Thanksgiving!
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