Westfield Regional Board of Health Discusses Impending Cicada Invasion

To the Editor:

The Westfield Board of Health met on May 6, 2012. 

We discussed the impending invasion of cicadas. Although cicadas are a noisy nuisance, they are fortunately NOT a public health hazard and will be gone about 1 month after they arrive.

To protect children, the Westfield Regional Health Department is sponsoring the “B Hard Headed” helmet safety campaign this summer. Up to 100 free helmets will be distributed to children who ride bicycles, skate board or roller blade. For more information, please contact Laura Scanlon, MS, RN, the Public Health Nursing Supervisor, at 908-789-4070, extension 4074 or lscanlon@westfieldnj.gov.

You must license your cats and dogs through the Town Clerk and get them vaccinated against rabies, due to the presence of rabies in the county.  An owner of unlicensed and unvaccinated dogs and cats will be issued a summons.

Of 4 recent dogbites, two occurred when people went into their neighbors’ backyards and were bitten by the neighbors’ dogs, both of which were unlicensed and one unvaccinated.  Another resident was bitten by a wild cat that had been brought into the home.  All animals involved in a biting incident will be quarantined for at least 10 days.

Fifty-four retail food establishments were inspected in the last 2 months, of which 48 were satisfactory and 6 conditionally satisfactory. I encourage you to be aware of the mandatory inspection certificate that must be clearly visible near each restaurant’s entrance. If you have questions or concerns regarding food or other environmental health issues, please contact Ken Pincus, MPH, the Principal Registered Environmental Health Specialist, at 908-789-4070, extension 4072 or kpincus@westfieldnj.gov.

The Westfield Regional Health Department Child Health Clinic immunization program was audited by the State and was 100% compliant. The health department completed 21 immunization audits of local schools and childcare programs. Initial findings revealed 83 to 100% compliance, which increased to 97 to 100% compliance after review and counseling.

In addition, the Westfield Regional Health Department will sponsor health screenings with Overlook Medical Center. Cholesterol screening will be on Thursday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Municipal Building and there is a $10.00 charge. 

A free Skin Cancer screening will be on Thursday, May 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MAC Building I at Overlook.  For more information about the cholesterol and skin cancer programs and to register, please call the Overlook Community Health Department at 1-800-247-9580. 

The health department is also sponsoring with Saint Barnabas Medical Center a free high risk Lung Cancer screening program on Thursday, June 13, at 6 pm in the Municipal Building.  For more information and to register, please contact the Barnabas Health Lung Cancer Institute at 1-888-724-7123 or http://www.barnabashealthcalendar.org/sbmc.

Information about all of the Health Department’s activities is available on its website http://www.westfieldnj.gov/health. The complete minutes of the May 6 meeting will be posted after review and approval at our June 3 meeting, which starts at 5:30 PM in the Municipal Building 

Lawrence D. Budnick, MD, MPH

President, Westfield Board of Health