| Environmental Health |
Fluoride Water Fluoridation The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized the fluoridation of drinking water as one of ten great public health achievements of the twentieth century. Water fluoridation has helped improve the quality of life in the United States by reducing pain and suffering related to tooth decay, time lost from school and work, and money spent to restore, remove or replace decayed teeth. An economic analysis has determined that in most communities, every $1 invested in fluoridation saves $38 or more in treatment costs. Fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health over a lifetime, for both children and adults. The Nebraska Unicameral passed LB245 at the end of this past legislative session (ending in April 2008), providing for fluoridation of drinking water in cities or villages with populations of one thousand or more residents by June 2, 2010. We hope the frequently asked questions that follow will help to clarify the issue. * Water Fluoridation - Frequently Asked Questions * Four Corners District “My Water’s Fluoride” * Cost Savings of Community Water Fluoridation * Nebraska Communities that fluoridate or purchase fluoridated water * Read more about the Ten Great Public Health Achievements -- United States, 1900-1999 Food Safety Food safety and sanitation is the daily responsibility of those who prepare and cook food, not only in the food industry but at home. Most cases of foodborne illness can be prevented through proper cooking or processing of food, which kills bacteria. Four Corners Health Department monitors foodborne illnesses in the district and investigates each one. A few simple precautions can reduce the risk of food borne illness: Cook meat, poultry and eggs thoroughly. Using a thermometer to measure the internal temperature of meat is a good way to be sure it is cooked sufficiently to kill bacteria. Separate foods to prevent cross-contamination between different foods. Avoid cross-contaminating foods by washing hands, utensils, and cutting boards after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry and before they touch another food. Put cooked meat on a clean platter, rather than back on the one that held the raw meat. Chill leftovers promptly in the refrigerator. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature, so refrigerate leftover foods if they are not going to be eaten within 4 hours. Large volumes of food will cool more quickly if they are divided into several shallow containers for refrigeration. Clean produce by washing it thoroughly. Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in running tap water to remove visible dirt and grime. Remove and discard the outmost leaves of a head or lettuce or cabbage. Because bacteria can grow well on the cut surface of fruit or vegetable, be careful not to contaminate these foods while slicing them up on the cutting board, and avoid leaving cut produce at room temperature for many hours. People should avoid being a source of foodborne illness themselves. This can be prevented by washing hands with soap and water before preparing food. Someone with a diarrhea illness should avoid preparing food for others.
For more information see links below: Safe Food Handler Practices and Conditions Temporary Food Establishment Requirements
Hazardous Waste Landlord-Tenant Issues Four Corners receives many calls regarding landlord-tenant issues. We cannot provide legal advice in these situations, but we can provide information on landlord and tenant rights. The links below are excellent resources. * Nebraska Landlord-Tenant Act * Landlord and Tenant Handbook * Legal Aid of Nebraska's homepage Mold The key to mold control is moisture control. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and get rid of the excess water or moisture. After cleaning up the water, use fans and dehumidfiers to help remove the moisture from the air. Find and fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water. Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and dry completely. If bleach is used, make 10% solution by adding 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles and carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced. For more information on mold see the links below. * "Is Mold Affecting my Health" Brochure * "Get Rid of Mold" pamphlet - Centers for Disease Control * "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" publication in English and Spanish Nebraska Indoor Clean Air Act * Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act of 2008, Summary of the Law (Smoking Ban) * Legislative Bill 395 - Nebraska Smoking Ban Rabies Rabies is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services tests and tracks animals submitted for testing. The number of rabies cases in animals is currently on the decline in Nebraska, according to Dr. Annette Bredthauer, the state’s public health veterinarian. But rabies is cyclical in nature, meaning the number of cases rise and fall, depending on the level of rabies in the skunk population.The most common hosts of rabies virus are skunks, followed by raccoons. Other common hosts include bats and domestic animals like cats, dogs and horses. Four Corners Health Department assists individuals who have experienced an animal bite or exposure to a bat to assure that the rabies testing is done or the domestic animal is quarantined. If the animal is positive for rabies, the individual is referred to his healthcare provider for post exposure rabies vaccination. See link below for Nebraska statistics for positive rabies. Radon Radon is a radioactive gas that you can’t see, taste or smell. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. When you breathe air that contains radon, you can get lung cancer. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths in our country each year. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes. If the level of your home is above 4 pCi/L then action to reduce the level is recommended. Four Corners Health Department partners with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide free or reduced priced Radon test kits to citizens in our counties. The following links will give you more information about Radon: * EPA's A Citizens Guide to Radon in Spanish and English * List of Nebraska businesses licensed to mitigate Radon * Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Radon Link West Nile Virus The Four Corners Health Department assists the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services with West Nile Virus surveillance. Four Corners encourages citizens of Butler, Polk, Seward and York Counties to report dead birds by calling our office starting in May. Dead corvids (blue jays, crows and magpies) and raptors (hawks, owls and eagles) are collected for testing for West Nile Virus. This year Four Corners Health Department is trapping mosquitoes biweekly from May – October. The mosquitoes will be tested for West Nile Virus and will give our counties an idea of the prevalence of the virus in mosquitoes. Click on the topics below to learn more about West Nile Virus Surveillance and how to “fight the bite”. * Human West Nile Virus Cases (In Nebraska) * Human West Nile Virus Cases (in Four Corners District)
|
|
|
Website by WebTech Solutions