Public Health Communicator

22 N. Georgia Ave. Suite 300 Mason City, IA 50401

Phone: 641-421-9300 Fax: 641-421-9350 Toll Free: 1-888-264-2581

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

March 2014

Day in the Life of...

Sophia Walsh, Environmental Health Specialist

From working to save endangered species to investigating private wells for arsenic, Sophia Walsh, Environmental Health Specialist has had interesting experiences protecting the environment.

Walsh's experience started at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. While in college, she interned with South Cost Natural Resource Management in Albany, Western Australia. She was responsible for helping researchers map where endangered species such as the Western Ground Parrot and archeological artifacts were located. "At dusk and dawn, we would stand in a grid and listen to the parrot calls," she stated. "From the location of the calls, we then were able to triangulate the bird's location." She also utilized Geographic Information Systems to locate the birds. Another aspect of the internship was to help Aboriginal students, adults and families look for artifacts such as tool making equipment on properties where there was coal or oil excavating. "The purpose of this was see if there were any artifacts on sacred ground and needed to be protected," she noted. Walsh graduated with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Economics.

After graduation, Walsh was employed with GeoComm, an organization that worked with local governments maintaining map data. "My responsibilities in this position included converting all rural addresses to 911 addresses for emergency purposes," Walsh said. "I would travel throughout communities making sure phone numbers and addresses matched." Walsh would also work with the counties training employees how to maintain mapping data.

In 2010, Walsh saw an opening with the Health Department and has been here ever since. As an Environmental Health Specialist, her main focus is the arsenic in groundwater project. "I test private wells in Cerro Gordo looking for arsenic trying to determine why it is present in the groundwater." This project allows her to meet with residents regarding well water testing and present facts and findings to environmental partners and organizations. She also works with our Grants to Counties program and Unregulated Drinking Water Systems project testing private wells for bacteria and nitrates.

With her position, Walsh also works with Geographic Information Systems. "I have helped to map wells and septic systems in our county," she noted. "I also assist with mapping disease outbreaks such as pertussis and mapping out trails and sidewalks to improve physical activity in our county." Walsh has also helped to map healthy food options at restaurants, grocery stores, and fitness facilities for our Community Transformation Grant.

Throughout her time at the Health Department, she has enjoyed working with residents of the county. "I really like meeting and educating our citizens about the importance of testing your private well," Walsh noted. She also enjoys working for an organization that values teamwork. "My coworkers provide opportunities to learn about other aspects of environmental health such as food establishment inspections and radon testing," she noted. "We support each other and come up with ways to solve problems."

Walsh believes the built environment aspect of public health has a bright future. "I think our wellness and environmental health services will work well together developing new bike trails and walking paths to keep our community active and healthy," she stated.

Sophia Walsh is a great asset to the Health Department educating residents about the importance of testing private wells!

Department Quick Links...

Main website

Scan this QR code with your smartphone for a direct link to our website.

Have you tested your private well water yet?

March 9 - 15 is National Groundwater Awareness Week this year. An estimated 450,000 Iowans use private wells for their water supply.

Private wells in Iowa are not regulated like public water is to ensure safety. Therefore, it is up to the well owner to maintain a safe water supply. To do this, the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health recommends that private well owners should test their well water annually for bacteria, nitrates and arsenic. Potentially harmful contaminants are usually colorless, odorless and tasteless. These contaminants can negatively affect the health of all people, but can be especially harmful for children and people with compromised immune systems.

The Health Department is currently trying to ensure that every private well in Cerro Gordo County is tested for bacteria, nitrate and arsenic contaminants. There are roughly 1500 well owners and/or users in the county who have not had their private well water tested. The Health Department has received grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that allows us to provide free testing for wells that have never been tested. Residents will be receiving a postcard in the mail informing them if they are one of the 1500 who qualify for free private well water testing.

If you have received a postcard or had your well tested in the past and would like a free test or if you have any questions, please call (641) 421-9318.

It's finally MARCH!

Spring is just around the corner. Soon we will be outside enjoying the nice weather. And nice weather means the return of the Walking School Bus Program! Register your child or sign up to volunteer. Visit www.cghealth.com for more information.

Thursday, March 19 is National Kick Butts Day! Stand up against big tobacco and say no! If you need help quitting, call Quitline Iowa for support and FREE nicotine replacement therapy at 1-800-QUITNOW.

We want to know how to best communicate with you! If you have a minute to spare, help us by taking our communication survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FSS8GXC

In this month's edition of Public Health Communicator, we recognize the importance of colorectal cancer screening in honor of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Penny McCaslin, Tobacco Program Coordinator highlights the importance of making tobacco history everyday especially Thursday, March 19 on National Kick Butts Day. Currently, 450,000 Iowans use private wells for their water source. March 9 - 15 is National Groundwater Awareness Week; we include information on why it is vital to test your private well annually. As always, we include the "Day in the Life of" Column and the Wellness Corner! Enjoy!

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on all the current information surrounding the Health Department. Make sure to check out the left side of our newsletter, which features our Quick Response (QR) Code. Scan it with your smartphone to get directly to our website.

For more information about our services, visit our website at www.cghealth.com.

Best wishes,

Nola Aigner

Public Information Officer

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

On March 1, 2014, President Obama signed a proclamation recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It is a pretty safe bet that this did not make the top news stories in the local media nor did you hear it from anyone you had a casual conversation with recently.

So, why would you talk about it? There are many reasons to talk about it, especially with your healthcare provider. First, colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) is the second-leading cause of cancer death in both the United States and Iowa. A cancer this common is worth talking about!

Second, it is 90% treatable if detected early. There are over one million colorectal cancer survivors in the U.S. Colon cancer causes no symptoms in 7 out of 10 people diagnosed with it. Screening is the key to prevention! Unfortunately, the screening is the part that no one wants to talk about. The prep and process for some of the screening methods sound unpleasant or time consuming.

There are various tests available for colorectal cancer screening. The invasive tests such as flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, double contrast barium enema and CT colonography all detect both cancer and polyps and must be performed in a healthcare facility by a trained healthcare provider. Most of these tests require some type of bowel prep before the testing. The tests used for cancer screening only include the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), Fecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT) and stool DNA tests (sDNA) use a sample of stool to determine results, do not require bowel prep and are non-invasive. A positive result on one of these tests will require the use of a colonoscopy to complete the cancer screening process.

Third, certain factors may put you at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer, such as a family history of polyps or colorectal cancer, smoking, having been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease or if you are African-American.

Next, colorectal cancer screening is recommended for both men and women who are 50 and older. You need to see your healthcare provider sooner if you are experiencing symptoms of colorectal cancer such as:

blood in your stools, abdominal cramping or pain that occurs often and for unknown reason, having stools that are narrower than usual, persistent nausea and vomiting, feeling that the bowel does not empty completely or unexplainable changes in bowel habits.

The most important point is that screening can save lives. Talk to your medical professional about your risk factors and the type of screening that is right for you.

No health insurance? No problem! The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health participates in the Iowa Get Screened Program. The program provides free FIT testing or covers the cost of colonoscopies for those who qualify. The FIT test is a non-invasive stool testing kit that is mailed to your home. The sample you collect is sent to a lab for testing. It is not invasive and the instructions are easy to follow. If your test is negative, you will test again next year. If the result is positive, you will be advised on how to have a screening colonoscopy performed. If you are over 50 years of age and feel you may qualify, please contact us at 421-9315.

If you are you age 50 or older, what are you waiting for? Get your rear in gear and get screened!

Kick Butts Day - Making Tobacco History

(as in a thing of the past)

When you were a kid, did chewing tobacco come in a can that resembled a package of bubble gum? Did cigarettes remind you of your favorite cartoon? Probably not, and you may have tried them anyway. These days, it doesn't take a rebellious notion to be tempted by tobacco and we definitely know it is not cool. Tobacco companies market to teens. A wide variety of fruity flavors, bright colorful packages, and the many new versions of tobacco products has escalated even though 443,000 Americans die every year from tobacco related illness and disease.

Big tobacco needs replacement smokers and they are spending over $1million an hour, each and every day targeting youth to make that happen. They promote images that make tobacco use appealing to youth. The vast majority of smokers begin before the age of 18. Every day 3,200 children smoke their first cigarette.

The 50th Anniversary of the Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health states that 5.6 million children alive today will ultimately die from smoking if we do not do more to reduce current smoking rates. That equals 1 out of every 13 children alive in the U.S. today. Smoking causes disease in nearly every organ in the body; it is not just a lung cancer or breathing issue. About half of children age 3-18 are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS). Secondhand smoke kills 41,000 nonsmokers every year. The report also states that "There is no safe level of SHS exposure and NO SAFE CIGARETTE."

March 19, 2014, is Kick Butts Day. The Cerro Gordo Chapter of ISTEP (Iowa Students for Tobacco Education and Prevention) reminds you to talk to your kids about the hazards of tobacco use. Be a good role model. Encourage them to stand up against big tobacco and take the target off of their back. Let's help their generation make tobacco a thing of the past.

Wellness Corner

Going Nuts Over Nuts

Nuts are often an underrated nutritious snack in our daily diets. They account for less than eight percent of our daily antioxidant intake despite their numerous nutritional benefits.

The Good -

Nuts are rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat or the "good" fat that is emphasized in heart-healthy diets. In addition to healthy fat, nuts also have similar antioxidants as fruits. They actually are far richer in antioxidants than apples, carrots and beets and rival the powerful pomegranate and blueberry!

The Bad -

Nuts generally tend to be higher in calories and fat content due to their natural make-up, so be sure to practice the principle of moderation. Watch your servings like you should do for every food choice!

And The Best -

#1 Almonds, Walnuts, Cashews, Pistachios

#2 Pecans, Brazilian Nuts, Macadamia Nuts

#3 Peanuts...actually classified as a legume which is part of the bean family

Health Benefits :

Reduce Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels
Improve Breathing
Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Prevent Prostate Cancer
Delay progression of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
Improve memory and vision
Boosts Immune System
Fight Inflammation

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Thank you for choosing the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health!

Our Mission Statement:

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health works to

optimize the health of all people in Cerro Gordo County.

Our Vision Statement:

We will be the leader in making Cerro Gordo County the healthiest

county in Iowa.

Our Value Statement:

We believe in human dignity, respect for individual choices, promotion for wellness and personal safety, protection of the environment, prevention of disease and access to quality health services.

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