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Defining the Emergency Response Roles of Environmental Health Specialists in Northwest Ohio

Defining the Emergency Response Roles of Environmental Health Specialists in Northwest Ohio . Aaron Otis, M.P.H., R.S. Northwest Ohio Region Public Health Coordinator Toledo-Lucas County Health Department Niki Lemin, M.S., R.S. Program Manager Center for Public Health Preparedness

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Defining the Emergency Response Roles of Environmental Health Specialists in Northwest Ohio

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  1. Defining the Emergency Response Roles of Environmental Health Specialists in Northwest Ohio Aaron Otis, M.P.H., R.S. Northwest Ohio Region Public Health Coordinator Toledo-Lucas County Health Department Niki Lemin, M.S., R.S. Program Manager Center for Public Health Preparedness Office of Workforce Development School of Public Health The Ohio State University

  2. Problem Statement Involvement of environmental health specialists during emergency response is low in Northwest Ohio. Program Goal Increase the involvement of Northwest Ohio environmental health specialists during emergencies. Project Overview

  3. K E Y V A R I A B L E S Non-public health agencies making public health decisions Environmental health involvement TIME Behavior Over Time

  4. Current Mental Models • This is someone else’s responsibility, let them do it. • I want to be involved, but I don’t know what to do. • We don’t have the personnel, time or funding to be involved. • There are other programs that need our attention. Non-public health agencies make public health decisions, due to the lack of environmental health involvement. Environmental health is not involved in emergency response activities. R

  5. Shifting the Burden

  6. Methodology Develop a list of emergency response roles. Develop a survey tool. Distribute a survey. Define the role. Anticipated Results A well-rounded, all-hazards definition. Respondents would identify food safety, potable water, sewage, solid waste and vector control. Respondents would not identify hazardous materials, building assessments, and outbreak investigations.

  7. 80 (44%) of 183 surveys were returned. What We Found Is… Should EHS be involved in emergency response? How involved are EHS?

  8. What is Your Discipline?

  9. Level of Involvement 43 EHS Responded

  10. When Would You Expect EHS Involvement?

  11. Potential food safety (96%) drinking water (94%) waste water (92%) public education (90%) solid waste (86%) epidemiology (85%) vector control (78%) public information (72%) health & safety officer (65%) Current food safety (86%) public education (69%) drinking water (68%) epidemiology (64%) public information (58%) waste water (57%) solid waste (54%) EHS Functions

  12. Potential EHS Roles

  13. Reasons for EHS not being more involved: “Lack of funding.” “Public health is not a first responder.” “Lack of training.” “Lack of support & leadership.” “It’s not my job.”

  14. Conclusions • EHS do want to be involved. • A system of training, policies, procedures, practices, and processes is needed. • Concepts must be implemented. • More research is needed on this subject. • Environmental health must be at the planning table with other responders.

  15. Future Steps • Provide the health jurisdictions with a defined role. • Develop policies, procedures, practices, training and exercises. • Conduct a statewide survey.

  16. Thank You! Questions?

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