Idaho Environmental 
Health Association
E-News Bulletin - July 2011
In This Issue
Healthy People 2020 Environmental Health
Foodbourne Outbreak Guidelines
CDC Healthy Homes Initiative
Business and Environment Conference

 

Healthy People 2020

 

Healthy People 2020

 

Environmental health consists of preventing or controlling disease, injury, and disability related to the interactions between people and their environment.

 

The Healthy People 2020 Environmental Health objectives focus on 6 themes, each of which highlights an element of environmental health:

 

Outdoor air quality

Surface and ground water quality

Toxic substances and hazardous wastes

Homes and communities

Infrastructure and surveillance

Global environmental health.

 

  

 

  

 

 

UPCOMING TRAININGS

 

National Environmental Policy Act: Writing the Perfect EA/FONSI or EIS

August 2-3, 2011

 

Environmental Forensics Techniques

August 16-17, 2011

 

www.eosalliance.org  

 


The Idaho Environmental Health Association publishes a monthly E-News Bulletin for members, conference attendees, business partners and others interested in the field of environmental health. For more association news, visit our website at www.idahoenvironmentalhealth.org.

The Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR) Announces Toolkit


The Guidelines 
are a reference document that complements existing procedures to update agency-specific policies, to identify gaps, and to target training of program staff. The document is intended to aid government agencies responsible for investigating, managing, and preventing foodborne disease. This Toolkit has been developed to aid in the implementation of the at the state and local levels. The Toolkit is intended to further the ability of states and cities to implement appropriate recommendations from the Guidelines without having to develop a new set of tools or aids.

 

The Toolkit walks public health practitioners through a series of worksheets designed to help jurisdictions identify which recommendations from the are most relevant to be implemented. The worksheets divide the twelve focus areas, which cover the most critical elements of outbreak response that are likely to be common to most jurisdictions and outbreaks. The worksheet process guides users through describing current activities and procedures, prioritizing CIFOR recommendations to address needed improvements, and making plans to implement the selected recommendations.

 

Toolkit users have found that the electronic versions of the documents are optimal for use in group settings. http://www.cifor.us/toolkit.cfm. Hard copies of the Toolkit including a CD may be obtained by contacting Lauren Rosenberg at the CSTE National Office at (770) 458-3811 or [email protected].

 

CDC's Healthy Homes Initiative 

 

 

Housing conditions can significantly affect public health. Childhood lead poisoning, injuries, respiratory diseases such as asthma, and quality of life issues have been linked to the more than 6 million substandard housing units nationwide. Residents of these units are also at increased risk for fire, electrical injuries, falls, rodent bites, and other illnesses and injuries.

 

Other issues of concern include exposure to pesticide residues, indoor toxicants, tobacco smoke, and combustion gases. The burning of oil, gas, and kerosene can release a variety of combustion products, including carbon monoxide, a known cause of illness and death. In its Healthy People 2010 goals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services calls for a 52% reduction in the number of substandard occupied housing units throughout the United States.

 

Most public health efforts take a categoric approach to health and safety hazards in the home, focusing narrowly on one issue, even in the presence of multiple issues. A Healthy Homes approach is holistic and comprehensive and provides public health professionals, including environmental public health practitioners, public health nurses, and housing specialists, the requisite training and tools necessary to address the broad range of housing deficiencies and hazards associated with unhealthy and unsafe homes. More...

 

 

Presented by NEBC and the DEQ

http://www.businessandenvironment.org/