Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Dept.

10/23/2026

As temperatures start to change, don't forget to schedule a furnace inspection or have your indoor fireplace maintained to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning this winter.
Carbon monoxide poisoning: https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.htm

10/22/2026

Mammograms are key to the early detection of breast cancer. Prioritize your health through annual mammograms and health screenings. Then encourage the other women in your life
to schedule theirs as well.
Risk factors: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/risk-factors/index.html
Screening: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/screening/index.html

10/21/2026

Come by & visit our table at parent teacher conferences at Woodson USD #366!

10/21/2026

❤️ Every Beat Counts: Youth Heart Screening Program! ❤️
We are excited to announce that SEK Multi-County Health Department has received a $3,400 grant from Your Community Foundation to help launch our Every Beat Counts: Youth Heart Screening Program!
This program will provide FREE heart screenings for children, teens, and young adults ages 8–25 throughout Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties.
Some serious heart conditions can go undetected for years, even in otherwise healthy, active young people. Through this program, our nurses will perform electrocardiograms (EKGs), which will be reviewed by our Medical Director along with a cardiac assessment. If concerns are identified, participants will be referred for further evaluation.
Our goal is simple: Identify hidden heart conditions early, help prevent sudden cardiac death, and give our young people the opportunity for a healthy future. ❤️
We extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Your Community Foundation for believing in this project and helping us bring this potentially life-saving service to our communities! This generous grant will support the purchase of our portable EKG machine, bringing us one step closer to making these screenings available.
📢 Stay tuned! We will share more information about screening opportunities as the program gets underway.
About Your Community Foundation:
Your Community Foundation manages charitable funds created by donors dedicated to giving back to their community. Grants from these funds support nonprofits and municipalities across Allen County.
For inquiries about the Foundation, please call 620-418-6982 or visit https://givingmakesadifference.org/.
Every Beat Counts. Every Young Heart Matters. ❤️
Your Community Foundation

Ten area organizations received a combined $18,000 from Your Community Foundation this week, courtesy of the foundation’s annual grant cycle.

10/21/2026

💚 Lead Exposure Can Affect Your Child's Health — Even When There Are No Symptoms! 💚
Did you know that lead exposure can affect a child's growth, learning, and development? 🧠
Due to past smelting activities in Iola, lead may still be present in soil and dust in certain areas of our community. Young children are especially vulnerable because they often play on the ground and put their hands or toys in their mouths.
⚠️ Lead exposure can contribute to:
🧠 Learning difficulties and behavioral problems
🗣️ Speech and language delays
👂 Hearing problems
📏 Slowed growth and development
🤕 Stomach pain and other health concerns
The concerning part? Many children with elevated blood lead levels show NO obvious symptoms!
🩸 That's why blood lead screening is so important!
The SEK Multi-County Health Department is working to help protect Iola's youngest residents by providing blood lead screenings for children ages 6 months through 6 years.
A simple blood test can help identify lead exposure early, allowing families to take steps to protect their child's health and development.
📍 Allen County Health Department
411 N. Washington Ave.
Iola, KS 66749
📞 Call (620) 365-2191 to schedule a blood lead screening for your child!
Whether your child has symptoms or seems perfectly healthy, knowing their blood lead level can help you make informed decisions about their health.
❤️ Healthy Kids. Brighter Futures. A Cleaner, Safer Iola.

10/21/2026

🍂🌻 Little Gardeners Can Make a BIG Difference! 🌱🎃
Fall is a wonderful time to get outside, enjoy the cooler weather, and involve your children in gardening activities! But did you know that soil in some areas of Iola may contain lead from past smelting activities?
At the SEK Multi-County Health Department, we're working to help Iola families reduce their exposure to lead and create healthier environments for children to grow and play! ❤️
🌱 Here are a few ways to make fall gardening safer for your family:
🍁 Use raised garden beds filled with clean soil or compost.
🍁 Cover bare soil with mulch or other protective materials to reduce contact with potentially contaminated soil.
🍁 Choose your plants carefully and consider growing vegetables in raised beds with clean soil.
🍁 Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
🍁 Keep soil outside! Remove shoes after gardening, wash little hands, and clean gardening tools.
🩸 Blood Lead Screenings for Iola Children
Lead exposure can affect a child's growth, learning, and development, and children may have no obvious symptoms. A blood lead test is the best way to know if your child has been exposed.
Our health department is helping Iola families access blood lead screenings!
🏡 Have Questions About Your Property's Soil?
If you're an Iola resident and would like to know the results of your property's soil testing, we can help connect you with a local agent and assist with soil access agreements for properties that may be affected.
📞 Call the Allen County Health Department at (620) 365-2191 for more information about blood lead screenings or soil testing assistance.
🌻 Healthy Gardens. Healthy Kids. A Cleaner Iola! 🌻

10/21/2026

1 in 4 Kansas adults have been diagnosed with arthritis.
Anyone can develop arthritis, but some factors make you more likely to.
Learn how to take control of your risk.
Arthritis information: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/841/Arthritis

10/20/2026

Looking for ways to celebrate on Nov 19? From hosting local events to sharing your story or thanking a provider, there are many ways to get involved. Get inspired at powerofrural.org/ways-to-celebrate.
For more information on National Rural Health Day activities in Kansas, visit:
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/323/National-Rural-Health-Day

10/17/2026

Come out & see us at Farm City Days today! We're on the middle sidewalk near the porta-potties.
We have our lactation/changing station. We also have a table with info about lead & lead screenings for Iola families.
Can't wait to see you on this beautiful fall day!

10/17/2026

How does your family stay healthy together, playing outside, cooking healthy meals together, sticking to a bedtime routine?
These little habits make a big difference for ourselves and our families.
Children activity information: https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activitybasics/guidelines/children.html