Environmental Health 

• Detect things in the environment that pose a risk to human health
• Investigation and follow up regarding reports of public health nuisance in which the health of the public is at risk or in danger
• Questions answered and referrals made using existing resources
• Examples include food, water, lead, radon, mold, rabies, vector borne diseases

North Country works to support healthy environments where we live, work and play.  Through investigation and follow on reports of public health nuisance in which the health of the public is at risk.  We provide education and referrals using the resources that are available.

Examples include:  Radon, water, lead, food, mold and vector borne illnesses like Lyme disease and disposal of unwanted medications.
For more information please check out: Healthy Homes Minnesota - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)

Radon  
Every 25 minutes, one person in the U.S. dies from radon-related lung cancer. Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless, so the only way for homeowners to know if their home has radon is to test.  Testing is easy and only takes 3-5 days. 

Radon test kits are available free of charge from:
Clearwater Country Nursing Service in Bagley: Call 218-694-6581 
Hubbard County-CHI St. Joseph’s Community Health in Park Rapids: Call 218-237-5464
Lake of the Woods County-CHI Lakewood Public Health in Baudette: Call 218-634-1795

Lyme Disease 
Lyme disease is one of many tickborne diseases in Minnesota. It is the most common tickborne disease in Minnesota and the United States. 
How do people get Lyme disease? People can get Lyme disease through the bite of a blacklegged tick (deer tick) that is infected with Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Not all blacklegged ticks carry these bacteria and not all people bitten by a blacklegged tick will get sick. The tick must be attached to a person for at least 24-48 hours before it can spread Lyme disease bacteria.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Early symptoms of Lyme disease usually appear within 30 days of a tick bite. It is common to have a red and sometimes itchy spot, up to the size of a quarter, right after being bitten by a tick.

• Rash
• May look like a bull’s-eye, or a red ring with a clear center that may grow to several inches in width
• May not be itchy or painful ? Not everyone gets or sees a rash and not all rashes look like a bull’s-eye 
• Fever or chills
• Muscle or joint pain
• Headache
• Tiredness or weakness

How to Prevent Lyme Disease and other Tickborne Illness:  

• Be aware of ticks
• Use repellents 
• Check for ticks 
• Consider some basic landscaping techniques

See for more detailed information on prevention: 
Preventing Tickborne Disease - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
Lyme Disease Fact Sheet (state.mn.us)

For information on other tickborne illnesses:  
Tickborne Diseases - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)

Pharmaceutical Waste
Disposing of unwanted medications In the past it was recommended that unwanted medications be disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or drain. This method of disposal can cause pollution in wastewater and can also cause unintentional human exposure to chemicals in medication. Mediations should not be disposed of by flushing down the toilet or a drain.
*Take unused, unneeded, or expired medications out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.
*Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable containers, such as empty cans or non-transparent sealable bags.
*Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so.
For more information visit Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:  Don't flush medicines down the drain | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (state.mn.us)

Each County has a drop box for unwanted medication disposal.

Clearwater County:  Clearwater County Sheriff's Department
213 Main Avenue N, Dept 102
Bagley, MN 56611
218-694-6226

Hubbard County: Hubbard County Sheriff's Department
301 Court Avenue
Park Rapids, MN 56470
218-732-3331

Lake of the Woods county: Lake of the Woods County Sheriff
206 8th Ave SE
Baudette, MN 56623
218-634-1133
                  

Water testing
For more information on well testing see:  Water Quality/Well Testing/Well Disinfection - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
For questions about water testing in your community or any questions regarding environmental health issues feel free to contact the Local Public Health Agency in your county (listed below). 
Clearwater Country Nursing Service in Bagley.  Call 218-694-6581 
Hubbard County-CHI St. Joseph’s Community Health in Park Rapids:  
Call 218-237-5464
Lake of the Woods County-CHI Lakewood Public Health in Baudette:  Call 218- 634-1795

Other resources:  Drinking Water: Keeping it safe for all of us (state.mn.us)