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Public Health
The Boone County Public Health Services Department is located at Home Care Services of Boone County Hospital.
The Boone County Public Health Department works closely with the Board of Health and other community initiatives/organizations to improve our community’s health. The Department is just one of many entities operated by Home Care Services of Boone County Hospital. The Boone County Public Health Department is located in the Home Care Services building, just west of the hospital, and provides numerous services to our county in addition to those listed below. |
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Immunization Clinics
The mission of our immunization clinic program is to reduce or eliminate all vaccine-preventable diseases. The program also promotes immunization initiatives for children and adults to assure the opportunity for a lifetime of protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Boone County Public Health Department provides immunizations to the public for vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunizations for Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus B are administered to children and adults.
Special clinics are held for influenza vaccine and pneumovax but the pneumovax can be administered at any time. |
Child Health
The mission of our child health program is to offer specialty care for infants through young adults. Our staff is focused on family-centered care with an emphasis on education and support.
Our Public Health Nurses are committed to training and educating health care professionals, patients, their families, and our community members. The training and education helps families remain active partners in their children's health care and development. The Healthy Futures Program is one program operated through the child health services. Nurses perform new mom and baby visits to those who live in Boone County.
Communicable Disease Control
The mission of our Communicable Disease Control is for our Public Health Nurses to play a significant role in controlling health hazards and reportable communicable diseases (i.e., sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, or food-related illnesses).
Boone County Public Health Nurses also provide information about other communicable diseases (i.e., scabies, ringworm) that may require treatment or follow-up with family doctors. Schools also require assistance in the control of head lice or other conditions that spread quickly in school-aged children.
Emergency Preparedness
Assemble an Emergency Preparedness Kit
Basic items include:
- Battery-operated radio
- Water
- Food
- First-aid supplies
- Clothing
- Bedding
- Specialty items such as prescription medications, important family documents, and baby formula and diapers
Create a Family Communication Plan
Choose an out-of-town person to be a contact point for family members to call if you are separated during an emergency.
Develop a Family Evacuation Plan
Learn about your community's emergency plan, the location of shelters and hospitals, and evacuation routes.
Be Prepared to Shelter in Place if Necessary
Local officials may advise you to shelter in place or remain indoors to protect yourself. If instructed to shelter in place:
- go inside immediately
- take your disaster supply kit
- go to an interior room without windows
Make Plans for Your Pets
Most shelters do not accept pets. Prepare a list of kennels, friends, and family members who may be able to care for your pet in an emergency.
Report Suspicious Activities
Be aware of your surroundings. If something seems suspicious, report it to local law enforcement.
During an emergency, the more you have planned ahead of time, the calmer and more assured you and your family will be. These six steps will help you through the process: Talk, Plan, Learn, Check Supplies, Tell, Practice
Talk
Talk with your family about disasters that can happen where you live.
Talk with your family about why you need to prepare for these events. Calmly explain the potential dangers, and plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team. Make sure every family member knows their particular responsibilities. Designate an alternate in case a person is not there at the time.
Plan
Plan where to meet after a disaster. Choose two places:
- Right outside your home, in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire.
- Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.
After determining your meeting places, you should also:
- Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Also, determine the best two escape routes out of your neighborhood/community.
- Ask an out-of-town friend to be your "family contact". After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
- Find out how to care for your pets. Many shelters do not allow them because of health regulations. For more information on how to care for your pets, visit our Animal Safety section on www.redcross.org.
Learn
Each responsible family member should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas. Learn how to use the fire extinguisher you store in your home.
- Learn about your community's disaster warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
- Learn where the safe spots are in your home for each type of disaster.
- Learn about the disaster plans at your business, your child's school or daycare center, or other places where you and your family spend time.
Check supplies:
- Review your disaster supplies and replace water and food every six months.
- Check batteries in smoke alarms every year and make sure one is installed on each level of your home.
- Check if you have adequate insurance coverage for each disaster.
Tell
Tell everyone in the household where emergency contact information is kept. Make copies for each member of the family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to call out of the area if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.
Tell your children how and when to call 911.Post emergency telephone numbers by phones. Complete the information on an Emergency Contact Card and make copies for each member of your family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact on your Contact Card. You may be able to reach someone out of town when local phone lines are out of service or overloaded.
To download an American Red Cross Emergency Contact Card, sign up at the CONNECT website.
Practice
Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked. Practice tornado drills at home, school and work. Commit a weekend to update phone numbers, disaster supplies and review your plan with everyone.
Chemical or Airborne Hazards
When there is concern about a potential exposure to a chemical or other airborne hazard, local officials will advise you to "shelter-in-place." This is unrelated to taking shelter on the lowest level of your home in case of a natural disaster like a tornado. To shelter-in-place:
- Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
- Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
- Close the fireplace damper.
- Get your disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.
- Go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
- Using duct tape, seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.
- Listen to your radio or television for further instructions. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.
Links
Iowa Department of Public Health -- Iowa Department of Public Health Internet Home Page
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency that is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people — at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. The CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
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