Wildfire Destroys our Neighborhood: A Survivor’s Story

Wildfire Destroys our Neighborhood: A Survivor’s Story

A wildfire of epic proportions blazed through the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs June 26, 2012. It was the most destructive fire in Colorado history and the most expensive, costing over 352 million dollars in insurance costs alone. 347 homes were completely destroyed along with 19,000 acres, and two residents died. Over 800 firefighters risked their lives to save the residents, animals and ultimately our neighborhood .This firsthand account from a trained emergency responder covers how to prepare for emergency disasters, common responses to a traumatic event, the impact on the community, lessons learned, and ongoing recovery efforts.

See NEHA 2013 Abstracts for more details

Environmental Health, There's an app for that!

The City of Evanston began using iPads with WiFi connections to support Food Inspections and General Environmental Health Programs in the Fall of 2012. Sanitarians perform Food Safety Inspections via iPads and the ACELLA app. Upon completing a Food Establishment inspection a document is created on the screen which can then be sent electronically to the Food Establishment. As soon as the inspection is finished the results are also posted on the city's website, so the operator has a number of opportunities to view the inspection and the public can view the inspection minutes after it happens. Our sanitarians utilize YouTube to provide educational videos during inspections. Sanitarians can view food establishment floor plans for final inspections on the iPadS and have policies, procedures, and technical information at their fingertips through an online service called Dropbox. Dropbox allows documents to be stored on the tablets and updated from the office or in the field as necessary. The City has also worked with GovQA and established a 311 system in 2011 aimed at improving efficiency and transparency of services. Residents can enter requests for service online or via telephone our inspectors receive the requests in their email queue and respond in the field while onsite performing the inspection. Our Sanitarians are now deployed in the field and do not have to stop in the office to update databases or finish paperwork. It can all be done in the field. Implementation of both software systems and the tablet technology of the iPads has allowed the division to greatly reduce the amount of paper we use making us a greener division. Check out more abstracts for NEHA's AEC here.

Don't Call Me a Health Inspector!

I got a tweet today form a colleague with this title as a topic for a presentation for NEHA's AEC in San Diego in 2012.
 
I have to say, I agree that when I did inspections for over 13 years I hated it when people called me a health inspector.  There was so much more to what I did than inspect retail food facilities.  In addition, I used a lot of science and critical thinking skills to determine if a process was safe in regards to numerous issues.  For example, was the way that a child care facility handling diaper changing putting children at risk for illness.  Is the water we drink safe, what about the air we breath, then there is protecting the public from harmful animals and insects that carry human diseases.  The list goes on and on.

Therefore, Environmental Health Specialists are trained in numerous areas to help protect the public from their environment to increase their quality of life.  So the next time you see someone inspecting a facility or working to make our environment and communities safer.  Say thanks and don't call them a "Health Inspector".  Have a great day and enjoy the clean air, water, and safe food. 

Shelly Wallingford, Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) working hard for you and all our families every day.

“EPA Decentralized MOU Partnership Releases Papers Highlighting the Benefits of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Decentralized Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Partnership has developed a series of four paper that highlight how decentralized wastewater treatment systems can be sustainable and appropriate options for communities and homeowners. The papers are intended to provide information to the public and to state, local, and industry officials on the benefits and types of decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Decentralized wastewater treatment consists of a variety of onsite approaches for collection, treatment, dispersal, and reuse of wastewater.  The MOU Partnership is an agreement between the EPA and 16 partner organizations to work collaboratively at the national level to improve decentralized performance and our nation’s public health and water resources. Since 2005, the MOU has reflected the commitment of EPA and its partner organizations to work together to encourage proper management of decentralized systems and increase collaboration among EPA, state and local governments, and decentralized system practitioners and providers.

In 2011, the MOU Partnership convened working groups to develop papers around each of four topic areas. MOU partners were selected to participate according to their area of expertise. Each paper focuses on one of four topic areas of decentralized wastewater treatment, demonstrating how decentralized wastewater treatment can be: (1) a sensible solution; (2) cost‐effective and economical; (3) green and sustainable; and (4) protective of the environment, public health, and water quality.  For additional information on the EPA Decentralized MOU Partnership and to view copies of the papers, please visit: For more information click here!

The Sequel to What's Hiding In Your Sandwich

Go to NEHA abstracts for 2013

Join us as we look at the reasoning behind why the FDA allows some contaminates in our foods. Then you’ll be tested on some examples of natural and un-natural contaminates found in our food! We’ll look at some recent methods of foreign material detection and procedural systems to prevent

Camplo What?

Campylobacter is a foodborne illness that use to be one of the most common followed closely by salmonella.  Camplobacter is a bacterium that is mostly associated with consuming under cooked chicken, but there are other ways to contract the illness as well.  Fortunately, public health professionals have been working hard to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses in general and they have made some significant progress in the last several years.  CDC estimates that of the seven major pathogens, they have all gone down except Salmonella and Vibrio.  However, are we going to start losing ground with all the tax cuts to public health and environmental health specialist that help to educate and prevent these illnesses?
  

Does this matter to you?  So what, so people get a little diarrhea what is the big deal!  I have heard people say this and let me tell you it can be a very big deal.  For example, Campylobacter can make you very ill with bloody diarrhea and can have lasting health affects for people who develop a rare disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome that affects the nerves of the body.  Some illnesses can cause death like E-coli 0157:H7.  Do you want to take a chance that you will be one of the people hospitalized or that die from foodborne illness when it can be prevented?

We all need to understand and work to protect ourselves and the environment from these illnesses and support the individuals that work every day to make the world a better place!

Why I am an REHS!

 

As an Environmental Health Specialist for over 13 years I have always felt that having a credential was important to the profession.  That is why even though Colorado doesn't require a credential to work in the state I got my REHS.   As an REHS, I am showing support for my profession and providing proof of my proficiency to conduct this important work.  Unfortunately, there is no national standard for credentialing the field of Environmental Health.  Now, more than ever, it is important to show the value and expertise of our profession since government budgets are shrinking and the public is losing faith in government employees.  Environmental Health Specialists need to come together and show their communities the value they possess.  Professionals in the field of environmental health need to work together to develop a credential and a voice that is strong and that helps people to recognize the great work they do.  When someone says they are a doctor no one wonders what kind of work they do.  That is the kind of understanding and recognition that a national credential for the field of environmental health can do.  As professionals, we all need to work to make sure everyone knows what great work we do and that is why I am and REHS.  How about you?

Epidemiology, Sampling and Traceback Working Synergistically

In 2010 and 2011 a large number of states and CDC investigated two Salmonella Agona outbreaks that were giving a "strong signal" for various produce items, none of which could be statistically implicated as "the most likely vehicle". Working with CDC, FDA issued an import bulletin targeting the suspect foods for sampling, import data was analyzed and tracebacks by the Texas Rapid Response Team were initiated. The combined efforts resulted in a synergy that identified the vehicle to be contaminated papaya from Chiapas, Mexico. 

Be a voice!  Now Open

Tell us topics you'd like to hear about and speakers you'd like to see at the 2013 AEC. Review abstracts and provide input. Help NEHA develop a training and education experience that continues to advance the proficiency of the environmental health profession AND helps create bottom line improvements for your organization!  To participate in the Call for Abstracts, visit

NEHA 2013 AEC abstracts

Educational session at NEHA's AEC

What Do You Do When You Have a Bomb Factory in Your Neighborhood?

 Check out this cool session at NEHA's AEC in San Diego!



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