mason county public health and human servicesfor the third annual environmental protection agency...

Mason County Public Health and Human Services

Monthly Activity Report

September, 2015

This monthly summary provides a review of the work and progress that is taking place within Mason County Public

Health and Human Services. Examples are highlighted of the work, training, and program development that the

dedicated staff of the Administration, Environmental Health and Community and Family Health divisions engages

in on a monthly basis.

Mason County Public Health & Human Services Monthly Activity Report

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Public Health “The science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy

lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases.”

-CDC Foundation

I. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

Trainings:

Health Officer Dr. Diana Yu and Communicable Disease nurse Susan Herrick attended the

Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases “Pink Book” Training September

16th and 17th in Tacoma. This training included learning about the immune system and how the

immune system responds to vaccines, the timing and spacing of vaccines, different types of vaccines

and how to appropriately administer them, immunization strategies for healthcare providers,

vaccine safety and storage and handling. Each disease that can be prevented by a vaccine was

highlighted, including what causes the disease, symptoms that can occur, and how to manage it.

The training was very informative and educational!

Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD):

The Smile Survey Oral Health Assessments are starting up again this year to survey children in local

Mason County Head Start/ECEAP preschools and elementary Schools. The Smile Survey is

conducted every five years by dentists and dental hygienists and assesses children’s oral health in

Washington. By randomly surveying preschool and elementary students throughout the state, we

can identify communities or areas in which there are significant differences in the oral health of

kids compared to the rest of the state. For example, the 2010 Smile Survey showed that the overall

rate of tooth decay in preschoolers and elementary-age children in Washington dropped from 46%

to 40% since 2005. However, 60% of low-income children have tooth decay (Children’s Alliance,

2011). This is compared to a statewide average of only 49%, and is an example of a significant

difference in oral health care across communities in the same state. This is one example of how the

survey helps the Department of Health identify differences in health related to a particular area,

community or population, also known as a health disparity.

As part of the 2015 Smile Survey, we will be evaluating two elementary schools in October,

including Bordeaux Elementary and Sand Hill Elementary. The information collected from the

Smile Survey will help the Washington State Department of Health better understand which

populations are at highest risk and to determine how to best increase access to dental care to these

populations and reduce the differences in care to communities across the state.

Health Officer:

Our County Health Officer, Dr. Yu, routinely consults with Mason County Public Health and Human

Services. She provides guidance and expertise in health management of our community, such as

communicable disease, emergency preparedness, zoonotic diseases and substance abuse

prevention. In addition to her routine consultation with the Department this month, Dr. Yu also

attended the Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases “Pink Book” Training.


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Mental Health and Substance Abuse:

Attended and shared current Mental Health and Substance abuse Coalition efforts.

Discussed and promoted the adult Substance Abuse Prevention Survey with the following:

o Shelton criminal justice

o League of Woman Voters

o KMAS radio

o Mason County Housing coalition and Shelton Community Forum

o Olympic College

o Substance Abuse and Prevention Coalition

o SADD Club and Gravity Program

o Promotion of survey on MCPHHS website and social media

o Shelton School District

Attended the Washington State Department of Health marijuana funding disbursement

meeting in Tacoma. MCPHHS was the only representative from a smaller county and

voiced the importance of keeping smaller counties and communities in mind and their

unique concerns and needs during the disbursement process.

Developed new contracts for the SADD Club media awareness and Youth N Action theater

projects to continue the great work that they’ve been doing.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Box totals for September, 2015:

o Belfair: 44.49 lbs

o Shelton: 106.65 lbs

o Total: 151.14 lbs

Onsite Sewage:

Septic Smart Week: (As posted on the MCPHHS website)

September 21-25 is SepticSmart Week. Proper care and maintenance of your septic

system will not only protect the health of the environment but will also help protect the

health of your family. Keep an eye out for tips and great resources throughout the week to

ensure your septic system is safe and working well!

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/upload/SepticSmart_Infographic_v2_081215-

eps_508-3.pdf

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/upload/SepticSmart_Infographic_v2_081215-eps_508-3.pdf

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/upload/SepticSmart_Infographic_v2_081215-eps_508-3.pdf


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For the third annual Environmental Protection Agency campaign, Septic Smart Week, Cindy Waite

and Alex Paysse worked with the Washington State University Extension to hold two septic system

homeowner workshops. One of the classes was attended by a reporter from the Mason County

Journal and resulted in a great, full-page article, titled “How to keep your septic system safe.”

Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHERP):

September being National Preparedness Month, Mason County Division of Emergency Management

and the County Public Health & Human Services Department co-hosted a Community Preparedness

Fair on Saturday, September 19, 2015, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, in the Shelton WalMart parking

lot. Many community organizations participated by setting up booths or bringing emergency

vehicles for the community to learn about ways to become better prepared for emergencies.

Fair participants included Fire Districts, Search &

Rescue, Mason General Hospital, Mason Transit,

Mason County Department of Emergency

Management and the Red Cross. Mason County

Public Health’s Medical Reserve Corp (MRC)

manned a booth to recruit new MRC volunteers and

was pleased to have 10 new inquires!


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Solid Waste:

Five new solid waste cases were received this month and 10 cases were closed.

Vector Program:

One bat specimen and one feline specimen were submitted to the Public Health Laboratories for

rabies testing during the month of September. Both results were negative for rabies.

As discussed in the August Activity Report, there were several human exposures to bats this

summer in our county involving bats positive for rabies. When human exposure to rabies is

suspected, Mason County Public Health and Human Services should be notified immediately.

There are steps you can take to keep bats out of your home, or to “bat proof” your living space:

Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bat entry into your living space.

Any openings larger than a ¼ inch x ½ inch should be tightly filled.

Use window screens, chimney caps and draft-guards beneath doors leading to attics.

Fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking; and check that all

doors to the outside close tightly.

For more information on animal bites or bat exposure, call Environmental Health staff member

Carol Spaulding at (36) 427-9670 ext. 580.

II. ONGOING/ROUTINE

Drinking Water Program:

Four sanitary surveys of class A water systems were conducted during the month of September.

These surveys are part of the Joint Plan of Responsibility between the state of Washington

Department of Health and Mason County Public Health & Human Services. Sanitary surveys are

conducted on all Class A public drinking water systems every 3-5 years to ensure that adequate

quality and quantity of safe drinking water is being supplied. Class A water systems are those with

14 or more connections and they are regulated by the Washington Department of Health, Office of

Drinking Water. Monitoring drinking water for contaminants is important for both human and

environmental health, and is therefore a critical component of the work done in the Environmental

Health division. Mason County contracted to complete 42 sanitary surveys in 2015.

Food Program:

During the month of September, 308 new food worker cards (for people who handle

unpackaged foods) were issued and 28 replacement cards were issued to Mason County

residents

Routine food establishment inspections were conducted and the reports were shared with

the public in the Journal and on the KMAS website.


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Recreational Shellfish Program:

During the month of September, two Blue Mussel sets were collected for the Washington State

Department of Health’s Biotoxin Surveillance Program. Marine biotoxins are dangerous toxins

produced by certain types of algae. Different changes in the environment can cause higher than

normal concentrations of these toxins, which can be taken up by shellfish. Consuming shellfish with

these high levels can cause illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. The

Biotoxin Surveillance Program helps ensure that shellfish remain safe for consumption.

Water Quality Program:

Forty shoreline and upland samples were collected for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Pollution Identification and Correction grant in September. This grant helps to protect and restore

water quality and the health of the surrounding environment.

VITAL STATISTICS AND RECORDS REQUESTS

Birth Death

Records Requests

Jan 85 180 34

Feb 91 251 21

March 73 135 24

April 81 247 13

May 113 165 12

June 101 197 10

July 90 278 21

Aug 122 202 15

Sept 128 233 20

Oct Nov Dec

September Waivers:

Parcel # & Type

Name Site Address Waiver type Approved

42201-75-90010 Waive 4 hour pump test for well

Brian Sund 25991 N US Highway 101

Pump test performed did not meet Group B design criteria, request to accept test as performed.

9/29/15

32026-75-90224 New

Judy Stephens

1411 Fireweed Rd

Reduce vertical separation from 24” to 12” for conventional pressure with attenuation zone

9/23/15

22005-55-00001 New

Arthur & Darlene Parent

191 E Wilchar Blvd

Reduce horizontal separation from 100’ to 75’ between well and septic drainfield

9/4/15

22107-50-00032 New

Gary & Debra

1480 E Mason Lake Drive

Reduce horizontal separation between drainfield and 3 private

9/8/15


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Gessel South wells from 100’ to 75’

22021-51-00009 New garage

Pamela & William Boysen

171 SE Teagle Drive

Reduce horizontal distance from foundation to septic tank to 2’

9/1/15

22218-14-00080 RV

William Larson

8610 NE North Shore Road

Holding tank for RV use 9/1/15

III. UPCOMING IN OCTOBER

Alex Paysse and Allie Perline will be attending the Washington State Public Health Association

annual conference in Wenatchee October 11-13. Environmental Health manager Debbie Riley will

be attending the statewide Environmental Health Directors meeting in Leavenworth October 14-16.

Cindy Waite, Alex Paysse and Debbie Riley will be presenting to the Lower Hood Canal

Implementation Committee at their October meeting, providing an update on the onsite program in

Mason County.

Cody Lund will we attending food inspector training hosted by the Washington State Department of

Health.

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