Dear Miss Liza,

The News Report stated that Emergency Shelters have opened due to the massive flooding after the hurricane and victims being displaced. I know you have “friends” in Environmental Health. What is their function in these shelters?

Nina

Dear Nina,

Shelter situations create close living quarters with different groups that are unfamiliar to one another. Potential exposure to diseases can increase in this situation. Environmental health professionals are involved with many functions in shelters, such as:

• Advise on shelter site selection
• Ensure food safety
• Ensure safety of water for consumption
• Ensure bathrooms and hand wash lavatories are provided
• Ensure wastewater is properly managed
• Ensure proper management of solid waste
• Ensure air quality is controlled
• Identify and assist with vector/pest control

Prevention is what environmental health is all about and the main health threats to shelter residents are the spread of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases.

Miss Liza