Health district conducting lead screenings for kids

TIFFIN — Seneca County General Health District met for a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday to hear a number of updates. Additionally, it was shared at the event that two grant-funded billboards will be installed for Overdose Awareness Month throughout August. Trisha Kahler, director of the Seneca County WIC program, shared that the number of vouchers given out at the Tiffin-Seneca Farmers Market has dropped to 25 per market event. "We are still giving all of them out, but this can be directly attributed to federal funding cuts," shared Kahler at the meeting. Andrea Barrell, reporting on behalf of the Nursing division, shared that two of four interviews have been scheduled for the currently open position of FT Public Health Nurse #2. "One of the interviews is complete, with the other quickly approaching," shared Barrell. Additionally, Barrell commented on the continued lead testing taking place among high-risk children in the county. Per its website, the state of Ohio mandates blood lead screening for all "high-risk" children 72 months (6 years) of age and below. A "high-risk" child is defined as one who: • Lives in or regularly visits a house built before 1978. (This includes a daycare center, preschool or home of a babysitter or relative.) • Lives in or visits a house that has peeling, chipping, dusting or chalking paint. • Lives in or visits a house built before 1978 with recent, ongoing or planned renovation/remodeling. • Has a sibling or playmate who has or did have lead poisoning. • Frequently comes in contact with an adult who has a hobby or works with lead. Examples are construction, welding, pottery, painting and casting ammunition. "The Ohio Department of Health conducts in-home testing, and per usual there are some very minor cases where we have seen lower numbers. But nothing alarming or of concern by any means," shared Barrell. She later said if concerning amounts of lead are found, caseworkers continue to work with a family to find and mitigate the cause. Caitlyn Dennison, who serves as an epidemiologist for the SCGHD, shared she recently completed a functional exercise with members of the Emergency Management Agency. Dennison explained that a functional exercise is a training exercise where instead of simply talking through the steps of how to deal with a particular emergency, those participating in the training followed through on many of the steps. "This was the first time I got to be out in the field and actively participate in an experience like this; I feel it was very beneficial," said Dennison. Also at the meeting the board heard from Fostoria resident Louis Watkins who continued to address his concerns regarding his foul tasting tap water. A previous article reported high levels of sulphate had been found in his water. While sulphate is naturally occurring, it can also be caused by contamination over a long period of time. Regarding the ongoing litigation between the Seneca County General Health District and WIN Waste Innovations, the board also discussed the need for consultation with an attorney to ensure HIPAA compliance and protect medical records on a board members' cell phone during the discovery process. The next board of health meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 28 at 92 E. Perry St., in Tiffin.