The role of environmental health practitioners in a public health emergency.Editor's note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : NEHA NEHA National Environmental Health Association NEHA National Executive Housekeepers Association NEHA Northern Estates Homeowners Association (Indianapolis, Indiana) strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships in the profession. In pursuit of these goals, we will feature a column from the Environmental Health Services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract Branch (EHSB) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. (CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation ) in every issue of the Journal. EHSB's objective is to strengthen the role of state, local, and national environmental health programs and professionals to anticipate, identify, and respond to adverse environmental exposures and the consequences of these exposures for human health. The services being developed through EHSB include access to topical, relevant, and scientific information; consultation; and assistance to environmental health specialists, sanitarians, and environmental health professionals and practitioners. EHSB appreciates NEHA's invitation to provide monthly columns for the Journal. In the coming months, EHSB staff will be highlighting a variety of concerns, opportunities, challenges, and successes that we all share in environmental public health. This month's column discusses the role of environmental health practitioners in a public health emergency. In their daily jobs or in a public health emergency, environmental health practitioners have the task of protecting the public's health from harmful elements in the environment. The 2005 hurricane season Hurricane season refers to a period in a year when hurricanes usually form. For more information see: Tropical cyclone#Times of formation. For a lists of past seasons, see:
Get Involved Environmental health practitioners must be actively involved in local and state emergency response planning efforts. Emergencies vary greatly from region to region and from city to city. For example, communities near chemical plants face unique emergency response challenges. The planning process begins at the local level with determining the events that are most likely to occur in a community and developing appropriate local response plans, deciding who will respond and how, determining staffing and equipment needs, and practicing plan implementation. Recognize the Value of Your Skills Environmental health practitioners must understand how valuable their skills are in responding to emergency events. The assessment of shelters for the 2005 hurricane evacuees Resident or transient persons who have been ordered or authorized to move by competent authorities, and whose movement and accommodation are planned, organized and controlled by such authorities. is a great example of the use of these skills. Many of the environmental health issues that existed in the shelters were the same as those that practitioners assess during their regular duties. These issues include safe food preparation, safe and adequate supply of water, infection control/handwashing, solid waste disposal, vector control, general safety, sewage disposal Sewage disposal The ultimate return of used water to the environment. Disposal points distribute the used water either to aquatic bodies such as oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, or lagoons or to land by absorption systems, groundwater recharge, and irrigation. , and adequate sanitation sanitation: see plumbing; sanitary science. facilities. Ensuring that these issues are addressed and that systems are functioning properly is essential for protecting the health and safety of shelter occupants and visitors. Take Advantage of Emergency Response Training Emergencies frequently require environmental health practitioners to be flexible and apply their skills and knowledge across several areas of environmental health (e.g., food, water, waste, air quality, vector control). Practitioners expected to respond to emergencies often need to review the basics of environmental health and should be aware of technical updates. At the 2006 NEHA Annual Educational Conference, a two-and-a-half-day course titled "Environmental Health in Disaster Response--Level 1" provided the basic review and technical updates needed for environmental health practitioners. The course outline is available at www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ETP. EHSB would like to know whether the content of this course is useful and appropriate, and meets the needs of environmental health practitioners. Please send your suggestions about this course and other types of training needs to ehsb@cdc.gov. Meet Recovery Phase Challenges The decision about when it is safe to reenter re·en·ter also re-en·ter v. re·en·tered, re·en·ter·ing, re·en·ters v.tr. 1. To enter or come in to again. 2. To record again on a list or ledger. v.intr. and reoccupy Re`oc´cu`py v. t. 1. To occupy again. a community after an emergency presents many challenges. Environmental health practitioners know how to evaluate a variety of environmental issues (e.g., food, water, waste, air quality, vector control); they address a variety of environmental health issues in their daily jobs and can translate science into practice. In emergencies they have the ability to collect, analyze, and translate environmental data. These abilities are a great asset for decision makers. Experienced environmental health practitioners are needed to lead the environmental health response to emergency events. Establishing and maintaining strong environmental health programs at the local and state levels helps to ensure that this leadership is in place. Find and Obtain Help The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) can be a useful tool for requesting and receiving environmental public health assistance during an emergency or disaster. The environmental health issues that arose during the 2005 hurricane season demonstrated the need for environmental health practitioners and resources during emergencies. EHSB has taken the lead in establishing a work group with state, local, and federal partners to explore how environmental health resources can be effectively deployed through EMAC. To learn more about EMAC, go to www.emacweb.org. In addition, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO ASTHO Association of State and Territorial Health Officials ) has developed an information sheet, " EMAC Tips for State Health Agencies," that offers guidance on the use of EMAC. For a copy of the ASTHO information sheet, go to www.astho. org/pubs/EMACTips 10.pdf. Explore Resources EHSB has developed an Emergency and Terrorism Preparedness pre·par·ed·ness n. The state of being prepared, especially military readiness for combat. Noun 1. preparedness - the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action); "putting them Web site at www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ETP that is specifically for environmental health practitioners. The site groups information by major subject areas in which practitioners respond. It provides resource tools from national organizations, federal agencies, and state and local programs. EHSB would like your suggestions for new links and site improvements: Just click on the EHSB e-mail address See Internet address. e-mail address - electronic mail address beside the envelope icon near the top of each Web page to generate an e-mail message. Conclusion Environmental health practitioners have essential roles to play in emergency response. The public depends on practitioners to fulfill ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. their roles every day as well as during emergencies. We must be engaged in planning and preparedness efforts to ensure that our roles are well defined and understood by other emergency responders and the public we serve. Corresponding Author: CAPT Mark D. Miller, U.S. Public Health Service Senior Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Health Services Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS F28, Atlanta, GA 30341. E-mail: zdq8@cdc.gov. CAPT Mark D. Miller, R.S., M.P.H. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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