1.  What are the hours of operation of the Four Corners Health Department?

• Answer:  The Four Corners Health Department is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

2.  What is the Four Corners Health Department?  What do they do?

• Answer:  The Four Corners Health Department offers services and programs that emphasize promotion of health, prevention of disease and serve the health needs of the population of our communities as a whole.  Public health activities change with variations in technology and social values but the goals remain the same: to reduce the amount of disease, premature death, and disease-produced discomfort and disability in the population.  As you browse through this website, you will see many of the current programs and activities of the Four Corners Health Department.

3.  Who would I contact in the event of a public health emergency at night or on the weekends?

• Answer:  In the event of an emergency, the Executive Director or Assistant Director (Emergency Response Coordinator) can be accessed through the office phone menu during off-hours.  The phone number is 402-362-2621 locally or 877-337-3573 toll free.  Follow the automated instructions to directly reach these individuals (press 4).

4.  I am concerned about my water quality.  How do I get it tested?

• Answer:  If your home is served by a public water system, get a copy of your annual water quality report before you test your water. This report will tell you what contaminants have been found in your drinking water and at what level.  After you’ve read this report, you may wish to test for specific contaminants (such as lead) that can vary from house to house, or any other contaminant you’re concerned about. In this case, or if your water comes from a private well, you may have to pay a laboratory to perform the desired water tests.
• You can obtain water sample kits for testing from the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure Laboratory. Their number is 402-471-2122. Your local county extension office may also have kits available. 
• A couple of tests are available at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District (NRD) Office in York, NE.  This NRD office covers a majority of the Four Corners District. Their link is www.upperbigblue.org
• Free nitrate testing.  Water testing sample bottles are available at the office, or a water sample can be brought in a clean plastic or glass container.
• Presence or Absence of Bacteria Test.  Water can be tested for the presence of bacteria by purchasing a sample bottle and directions ($3.00) from the York NRD office.

5.  How do I make a complaint regarding a health or safety issue in my community?

• Answer:  Call the Four Corners Health Department to express the health or safety concern.  The health department will either look into the matter or relay the concern to the appropriate department or agency to see that it is resolved.

6.  I found a dead bird.  Do you test it for West Nile, or how should I dispose of it?

• Answer:  Try to identify the type of bird and look at the condition of the bird, and then call the Four Corners Health Department with this information. During the summer months the health department is collecting blue jays, crows and raptors (hawks, owls, eagles) that are in good condition (no insects or strong odor) for West Nile testing. Information about any other dead birds is collected and reported to the state health department.
  
  Safe disposal of dead birds can be done in several ways:

• Place it in a covered trash can to be picked up by your trash service.  Use a shovel to place it in a plastic bag.  Another option would be to reach into a plastic bag and using the bag like a glove, pick up the bird and turn the bag inside out. The bag should be tied and placed in a covered trash receptacle, followed by a thorough handwashing.
• People can bury dead birds using a shovel.
• If in a rural area where burning of trash is allowed, the bird may be burned.

7.  Does the state pay for West Nile testing on humans?

• Answer:  In 2006, the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services will pay for the West Nile virus testing of specimens from patients with neuroinvasive disease, the more serious form of the disease.  Testing of patients who are suspected as having West Nile Fever is not free-of-cost.

8.  I have a dead animal.  Do you test them for anything?

• Answer:  Dead animals, other than birds, are not usually tested for diseases. However, if while alive, the animal bit, scratched or fought with a human or with another animal, call the Four Corners Health Department. Depending on the situation, this animal may need to be tested for rabies. Otherwise, it is best to bury dead animals using a shovel, or incinerate the animal in rural areas where burning of trash is allowed.

9.  How can I tell when my child is big enough to use the vehicle belt without a booster?

• Answer:  Safety experts recommend that most kids need a booster seat from about age 4 until about age 8.  Nebraska Law requires a booster to age six. It depends on the height of the child, the shape of the vehicle seat, and where the belts are attached to the vehicle. The shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder and chest. The lap portion of the belt should be low and snug, crossing the hip bones or upper thighs. Check that your child's legs are long enough so the knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat. Otherwise, the child will tend to slide forward to the edge of the seat or slouch downward, which can cause the lap belt to ride up too high. Finally, make sure the child sits all the way back and stays properly seated throughout the trip. Four Corners recommends that parents learn about proper car seat and booster seat fitting by car seat technicians for maximum child safety:   It is estimated that 90% of all car seats are improperly installed. For questions regarding times and places to get car seat fitting instructions call or email the Four Corners Office.
• Try the 5 - Step Test to see if your child needs a booster. http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm

10.  How do I dispose of my mercury thermometers?

• Answer:  If you want to dispose of any mercury thermometers, the Four Corners Health Department will take them and dispose of them appropriately.  Mercury is a hazardous substance that is harmful to our health when in the soil or water.

11.  I have mold growing in my home.  What should I do?

• Answer:  The Four Corners Health Department has information and brochures available to assist you in correcting a mold problem.  There are three steps to take if you think you may have mold growing in your home. 
1. Determine the extent of your problem. It is important to assess the situation and determine where the mold is growing. The source of moisture or water that is supporting the growth of the mold must also be found.
2. Clean up the mold. In most cases, you can handle the job yourself.  However, depending upon the size and nature of the problem, it may require hiring a contractor.  Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.
3. Fix the moisture or water problem. Moisture control is the key to mold control.  If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

12.  Do you do lead testing?

• Answer:  The Four Corners Health Department has information and brochures available to assist you in lead testing. Contact your local health care physician concerning lead testing for your children.   About 1 in 11 children in America have high levels of lead in their blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You may have lead around your building without knowing it because you can’t see, taste, or smell lead. You may have lead in the dust, paint, or soil in and around your home, or in your drinking water or food. The good news is that there are simple things you can do to help protect your family. 
1. Get your child tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children be tested for the first time when they are a year old, or at six months if you think your home has lead in it or if you live in an older building.
2. Keep it clean. Ordinary dust and dirt may contain lead.
3. Reduce the risk from lead paint.  Most homes built before 1960 contain heavily leaded paint.  Some homes built as recently as 1978 may also contain lead paint. This paint could be on window frames, walls, and the outside of your house or other surfaces. Tiny pieces of peeling or chipping lead paint are dangerous if eaten. 
4. Do not remove lead paint yourself. Scraping or sanding lead paint because these activities generate large amounts of lead dust has poisoned families. 
5. Don’t bring lead dust into your home. If you work with lead in your job or hobby, change your clothes before you go home.