Dishing Up Food Permits

This time of year there are a lot of fairs and special events that offer food. Fundraisers, promotional events and other functions occur frequently in and around Great Falls during the summer months. In order to make sure this food is safe, state law and city ordinances require vendors who sell food, even at temporary events, to get a food license or short term food permit.

One of the first steps a vendor must take in planning their event is to visit with the Environmental Health staff at the City-County Health Department. During this visit, the proposed menu items will be reviewed to determine the safe food handling and serving practices that need to be followed to reduce the risk of food borne illnesses. Environmental Health Manager Sandy Johnson says, “We want to make sure that people in charge of these food booths are provided with some basic food safety information ahead of time.”

Food borne illnesses are often the result of poor refrigeration, incomplete cooking or poor food handling practices. Food borne illnesses can cause everything from short term “stomach bugs” to more serious cases of Salmonella or E.coli. By taking a few minutes with the Environmental Health staff, you can help ensure a safe, healthy and successful event.

If you are a consumer enjoying a summer event, be sure to look for the food permit that shows you the vendor has been instructed on how to keep you safe from food borne illness.

For more information on food safety and permits, visit the Environmental Health page on CCHD’s website or call 454-6950.

Public Health Nurse Earns National Award

When Cascade City-County Health Department public health nurse Magda Roberts received a call for “Parents Educator of the Year” Award nominations, from the National Center for Parents as Teachers (PAT) she was pleased to see she met the criteria for award nomination. That was as far as her excitement went. She did not expect she would be selected to receive one of the five national awards from PAT.

The letter of nomination was presented by Carol Keaster, Family Services Manager at CCHD. Two client families supported by Roberts through CCHD’s home visitation program wrote letters of recommendation toward her nomination.  Roberts recalls, “I was pleasantly surprised and very touched because they were very eager to do it and said how glad they were that they had a chance to do something for me.”

One month later, Carol Keaster, Roberts’ immediate supervisor, informed her she won national recognition and would be attending the PAT National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri in November, 2010. “That was indeed great news, and at first I said, ‘You must be kidding me!’” Roberts recalls.

About a week later, Roberts attended the Montana Spring Public Health Conference in Bozeman where she was scheduled to speak on the importance of “Parents as Teachers” integration in the home visitation program. “People I hardly knew were congratulating me,” Roberts says. She thought it was because she was speaking at the conference or her recent graduation with a master’s degree in nursing.   It turned out that word had spread quickly of the public health nurse who earned such a prestigious honor.

Roberts, who has been a nurse for 35 years, says this award symbolizes quality services and investing in the future of our community. She also credits the PAT program for helping her reclaim her passion for nursing, as she is a strong advocate for using research and evidence-based practice in programs. “Integrating PAT into our services not only benefits our clients but it gives our staff a sense of professional pride,” Roberts said. She emphasized the importance of quality programs offered by the health department and how much of a difference it can make on individual lives.

Above all, Roberts views her award as a national recognition of all the public health nurses and staff at the City-County Health Department and of their devotion to excellence in services. “Our programs represent a great need in our community,” Roberts says.  CCHD is one of the four sites in Great Falls that offers the Parents as Teachers program, and one of eleven sites in Montana. “I believe that now, more than ever, there is a great need for our services,” Roberts concluded.

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a home visitation program designed as a partnership with families focused on giving children the best possible start in life. The philosophy underlying PAT is that parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers, and the role of the parent educator is to assist families in giving their children a solid education foundation. The CCHD Public Health Nurses/Parent Educators use PAT as a framework for conducting home visits and facilitating the development of parenting skills through parent-child interactive play, educational PAT handouts, and through watching PAT videos. For more information on PAT click here: Parents as Teachers.

HIV Testing Day Extended Hours

National HIV Testing Day is an annual observance to promote HIV testing to reduce stigma surrounding HIV testing and to persuade individuals to think about behaviors that may put them at risk for HIV. This year’s obsrvance is on Sunday, June 27. In Great Falls, the Cascade City-County Health Department provide3s HIV testing for anyone wanting to get tested. Free and anonymous testing is available on a walk-in basis Monday-Friday 8 am to 12 pm and 1pm to 5pm. In honor of National HIV Testing Day, hours will be extended Monday, June 28 – Wednesday, June 30 from 8am to 6pm.

In 2009, Montana passed a law intended to make HIV testing more accessible to people and easier for health care providers to offer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages HIV testing of adults, adolescents and pregnant women in health care settings. Individuals who know their HIV status can reduce risk of further transmission to partners. Treatment can slow the progression of the disesase. Routine testing is particularly important for pregnant women who can take advantage of medication to protect their baby. “The rapid test takes only 20 minutes in the office and it is strictly confidential; this is the first step in preventing HIV – getting tested and knowing your status,” says Trisha Garnder, CCHD HIV Educator.

Throughout the nation and in Montana, at least one in five persons living with HIV does not know they are HIV-infected. Forty percent of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they have already developed AIDS, and that can be up to 10 years after they first became infected with the virus. Since HIV does not immediately produce symptoms of illness, it may take years to progress to life-threatening stages, but the disease can be passed on to others, whether or not a person has symptoms. Early HIV diagnosis is critical, so people who areinfected can fully benefit from available life-saving treatments and healthcare.

Individuals interested in finding a location for testing can text their zip code to: knowit (566948) or can go to www.hivtest.org and enter their zip code. Individuals looking for more information on CCHD’s HIV Testing can visit http://www.cchdmt.org/index.php?p=prevention&n=hiv or call Trish Gardner at 791-9279.

Operation Medicine Cabinet- 6/10

Leftover and unwanted medications sitting in your medicine cabinet put communities at risk for diversion, prescription drug abuse and unintentional poisoning. A coalition of groups in Great Falls, including Take Back Drug Task Force, are providing members of the community with the opportunity to dispose of unused medications in Saturday, June 5th. Operation Medicine Cabinet Montana, held in multiple communities across the state, is part of Attorney General Steve Bullock’s effort to reduce prescription drug abuse in Montana.

Montana ranks third in the nation for teen abuse of prescription pain relievers-nearly 10 percent of teens admit to abusing these drugs in the past year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports that the majority of teens agree that prescription drugs are easier to get than other illicit drugs, including 63 percent who believe that prescription drugs are easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinet. Additionally, 70 percent of those who use precription meds for non-medical purposes obtain those drugs from a friend or family member.

“With prescription drug abuse on the rise in our state, it is important to closely monitor medications in our homes and get rid of those drugs we no longer have a use for,” said Attorney General Steve Bullock. “By limiting easy access to drugs that are potentially dangerous when misused, we reduce the risk of accidental posonings, illegal diversion and abuse in our community.”

WHAT:   Residents may bring expired or unwanted medications to be disposed of. Participants are encouraged to remove or blackout any personal information on the containers. Drop-offs are confidential and free of charge. The following items cannot be excepted: sharps/needles, chemo/radioactive drugs, or other nonpharmaceutical waste.

WHERE:   105 9th Street South Fire Station

WHEN:   Saturday, June 5; 10:00am – 2:00pm

A map of all events across the state can be found at www.doj.mt.gov/rxabuse.

Diarrhea: Rotavirus & Norovirus

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children, resulting in the hospitalization of approximately 55,000 children each year in the United States and the death of over 600,000 children annually worldwide. Protect yourself and your family from this virus. See our fact sheet for some important information on the symptoms, transmission and prevention of Rotavirus.

Rotavirus Fact Sheet

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis in people. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomch and intestines. The term Norovirus is the official name for this group of viruses. Most people experience vomiting and diarrhea for 1-2 days. Nroviruses are very contagious, but taking some simple steps like adhering to good hand washing practices, can protect you and your family. Click on our fact sheet to learn more.

Norovirus Fact Sheet

Flood Season: Staying Safe and Healthy

It’s springtime in North Central Montana, and while enjoying the warmer weather, it’s important to keep in mind that the runoff from melting snow and spring rainstorms have the potential to cause flooding of our creeks and rivers, especially in rural areas.  The City-County Health Department has some resources on their website to help those who may be under flash flood watches, warnings or advisories to stay healthy and safe.

There are some simple steps to take to prepare your home and family if you are under a flood watch or warning such as gathering emergency supplies, staying updated on the situation, and knowing how to shut off your utilities. 

Drinking water may become contaminated during a flood, so the Health Department has posted information on their website to help homeowners identify when their water may be unsafe and what to do to disinfect their water supply.  

Alicia M. Thompson, Health Officer, reminds community members that “hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to protect your health and the health of everyone in your household when before, during and cleaning up after a flood. For this you will need safe water.” 

If you suspect your water may be contaminated, do not use it for drinking, cooking or washing your hands until you have been able to disinfect your water source.

Infant Immunization Week- Extended Hours

Each year, thousands of children become ill from diseases that could have been prevented by basic childhood immunizations. Countless more miss time from day care and school and their parents miss work because they are under-immunized or inappropriately immunized.

During the week of April 24- May 1, 2010, the Cascade City-County Health Department (CCHD) will observe National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of childhood immunizations.

In observance of National Infant Immunization Week, the Cascade City-County Health Department will have extended hours on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, and will be open from 8am-7pm. 

During NIIA Week, Amazing Toys has donated coupons for health department staff to give to children who come in for immunizations that week or can show proof of being fully immunized.  The Amazing Toys coupons are for 30% off of any $10 purchase.  

Trixie Smith, Prevention Services Manager for the CCHD says, “One of the most important ways a parent can keep their child healthy is to make sure they are fully immunized.  Hopefully, with the evening hours, many parents will take advantage of this opportunity.”

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.

Community Meeting for CHCC on Tuesday

There will be a community meeting held next Tuesday, April 27, 2010 from 1:30-3:00pm in the Civic Center Gibson Room.  The purpose of this meeting is to provide clear, specific information about the federal requirements for a community health center, including the structure and authority of the community board, as well as the expectations of a co-applicant arrangement.  This presentation by a HRSA consulting team will serve as a foundation upon which to build additional community discussions about the future of the Community Health Care Center, Inc. (CHCC).

The Community Health Care Center is a federally qualified health center that has operated as a division of the City-County Health Department since 1994.  The team from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-the Federal agency that funds the Health Center- will be on site the week of April 26^th thru the 29^th.  Health Officer and Executive Director, Alicia Thompson states: “We want to assure that all of the stakeholders in our community have a chance to hear the same information about federal requirements and ask clarifying questions, as well as make sure everyone hears the same message.” 

The main purpose of Tuesday’s meeting is to discuss alternative options for the future of the Health Center with community decision makers, community partners and stakeholders in the healthcare field.  Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and explore the feasibility and impact of different scenarios for the future of the CHCC.

 About the CHCC:

The CHCC focuses on providing high quality, cost-effective, comprehensive primary and preventive medical, dental and behavioral health care to individuals who would otherwise not be able to access care.  Patients who are not covered by public or private insurance are charged on a sliding fee scale, based on their income, which renders health care affordable to all patients.

Saved by the Belt- Danielle Deschenes

Only a few days after the Thanksgiving holiday, Danielle Deschenes and her two children, Alexis Logan and Michael, had a lot to be thankful for—wearing their seatbelts.

On Saturday November 28, 2009, Deschenes loaded her children into their SUV Ford Explorer and headed up north to Havre to pick up a friend from the train station. When the truck she began to pass on the Old Highway put its blinker on, she thought to herself, You have to be kidding me. Just 20 miles outside of Havre, the truck, which was pulling a horse trailer, turned into her lane just as she sped up to pass it. Going 80 miles per hour, Deschenes swerved to miss him and severely overcorrected her car. In hindsight, she says she should have just headed into the ditch. Instead, she heard the car’s axle snap and Deschenes and the children flipped four times.

“I never lost consciousness,” Deschenes says. “I was awake the whole time. I closed my eyes and held on and I could hear my kids in the backseat screaming the whole time.”

When they finally stopped rolling, Deschenes’ first thought was to make sure her children were okay. The smell of gas was overpowering and she claims she’s seen too many movies where people blow up at the site. Deschenes managed to remain calm and helped her seven-year-old son and five-year-old daughter crawl out the back window. The kids kept pointing out that Deschenes’ hands were all bloody and scratched from the broken glass, but she says she was focused on getting out of the vehicle. It wasn’t until later that she would learn she hit her head, bruised her arm and walked away with a black eye. All of it though, is better than the alternative.

“I still can’t believe we walked away from it,” Deschenes says.

Danielle, Alexis Logan and Michael Deschenes were all chosen as the Safe Kids Montana and City-County Health Department’s Saved by the Belt award recipients. They will receive a one-year membership to AAA services and will continue to wear their seat belts.

Through With Chew Week

Four months after the successful implementation of Montana’s Clean Indoor Air Act, Montanans may think spit tobacco is a safe alternative to smoking, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Cascade City-County Health Department, in collaboration with Great Falls Public Schools, will be presenting Through With Chew: Tougher Than Tobacco on Tuesday, February 16th, from 10:50 – 1:30 at Great Falls High School and on Thursday, February 18^th, at 10:50 – 12:30, at Charles M Russell High School.  

“Debilitating nicotine addiction can result from use of other products besides cigarettes,” says Teddy Nault, Tobacco Prevention Specialist of the City-County Health Department.  “Additionally, spit tobacco can deliver up to five times more nicotine than a cigarette, making it especially addictive.” Spit tobacco contains 28 different cancer-causing substances in addition to nicotine, and users are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer than nonusers. One in three people diagnosed with oral cancer die from it.

“Great Falls’ Tougher Than Tobacco event during Through With Chew Week draw attention to the many health problems that result when individuals believe that spit tobacco is a safe alternative to smoking,” says Teddy Nault. “We do not want the tobacco industry to keep Montanans addicted to nicotine, no matter how it’s delivered.”

The Montana Tobacco Quit Line offers free services tailored for spit tobacco users who want to quit, including cessation coaching, help developing individual quit plans, and nicotine replacement therapy. Quit Line participants are 7 to 10 times more likely to quit than those who attempt quitting alone. Calls are toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).