Environmental Community Health

NOTICE

Annual Rabies Clinic

Sat, October 2, 2010, 9 am - 12 pm

Mohawk Agricultural Building, 1795 York Rd, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

Precautions for identifying Blue Green Algae

The Environment Program encourages residents with shore wells (dug well 100ft, drilled 50 ft from shore) take extra precautions to identify the algae.  If anyone identifies Blue Green Algae they should contact Kristin Maracle 613-396-3424 x 125. 

Information on Blue Green Algae:

Quinte Conservation Algae Watch

Backgrounder   -   Info for drinking water system owners and operators   -   Info for homeowners and cottagers

Mission Statement:   

The Environment is a gift and it is our responsibility as caretakers to protect it. A healthy environment means healthy people. Honouring diversity,  respecting creations life-cycle, embracing our interconnectedness to creation and practicing Kanyen’kenaka traditional beliefs  and using the Ohenton Karihwate’hkwen as our guide are the foundation of a healthy and sustainable community for future generations.

Program Overview:

Environmental Community Health Representative is responsible for:

• Oversees the Drinking Water Safety Program
• Collection of residential and business water samples as required
• Collection of quarterly samples at all designate service buildings
• Yearly collection of all designate facilities (schedule 23 & 24)
• Testing and monitoring of all community distribution systems, cisterns etc.
• Review and Interpretation of water results according to the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines
• Septic system inspections to ensure compliance to the building code
• Housing inspections related to Health and Safety issues ( eg. Mould, Air Quality and pests/rodents etc.)
• Volunteer Food Premise Inspections forRestaurant owners providing education on best practices for food handling
• Annual Facility inspections, health centers, day cares, recreational facilities

West Nile Surveillance and Monitoring Program

The West Nile Surveillance program has been monitoring mosquito’s in Ontario since 2003. All First nations in Southern Ontario participate each year with Health Canada. To date no positive mosquito pools have been reported in Tyendinaga.

• Collection begins in June and ends in September
• 4 Location are chosen throughout the Territory every Monday and collected on Tuesdays
• Canada post provides delivery to accredited laboratories for testing

Bird Surveillance Program

Health Canada offers a bird surveillance program in conjunction with the West Nile Surveillance program. Birds to be submitted are as follows: Crows, Blue Jays, Ravens.

Other birds of interest can be submitted if found suspiciously dead and/or clusters of dead birds.

• Dead birds should be reported to discuss situation of findings
• Collection by Environmental CHR and safety procedures followed for collection
• Submission for analysis to an accredited laboratory

Tick Surveillance Program – Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium, that is normally carried by small mammals such as mice. It can be passed to humans when ticks feed on infected animals, become infected themselves and then bite people. Lyme disease is spread by the bite of certain species of ticks. In Ontario, it is the blacklegged tick (often called a deer tick).

• Health Canada offers a program that tests ticks that are submitted.
• Contact the Env. CHR if you find a tick

Health Alerts

Health Canada offers public education when there are events such as food recalls/contamination, boil water advisory, health alerts etc.

Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit

Septic Systems

Building? Before installing a septic system, preliminary forms can be obtained within the department. Please call for details and to ensure you receive an informational kit on proper procedures for installations.

Choose a contractor of your choice; the contactor and homeowner are responsible for the work that is to be completed.  It is your best interest for a legal document or an agreement to be drawn up to ensure all parties are aware of what is expected. Always ensure your contractor has a MOE licence to install your septic system.

Once a contractor is chosen and the preliminary form is filled out, you are to make arrangements with the department to ensure Health Canada provides visual and written approval. Please keep in mind Health Canada visits Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory once per week.

Note: The best thing you can do for your septic system is what you do in the bathroom...... other products that are advertised stating  their product will “help your system”, actually won’t help at all – if anything those chemicals can cause more damage to your tank. Adding special additives to your tank or toilet is not advisable or recommended.

Remember do not plant trees or deep rooted vegetation on your leaching bed and DO NOT put anything on the top of the leaching bed other than yourself and possibly a lawn tractor when cutting grass, NOTHING ELSE.

Annual Rabies Clinic

We encourage you to have your animal vaccinated against rabies, to better ensure human and animal safety throughout the Territory.  The annual rabies clinic takes place every October in partnership with Bay Regional Veterinary Hospital.  The clinic is a minimal cost per animal.

In 2009, 80 domestic animals were successfully vaccinated against the rabies virus.

Next clinic is scheduled for October 9, 2010

Dog Bite Investigations

Domestic animal bites that occur are reported from the hospital which the victim was examined by. Contact is made to victims upon receiving report from hospital/public health unit. Details are collected and reviewed with appropriate parties involved including a follow up investigation.

• Contact is made with victims and the animal owner
• Investigations are conducted through reports and findings i.e. proof of vaccination records
• Quarantine of animal(s)
• Follow up after 10 days

Contacts:

13 Old York Road, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, ON

Phone: 613-396-3424 Ext. 131

Fax: 613-396-3627