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Home > Departments > Health Department
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| Board of Health | The Department is overseen by a three member Board of Health. The members are as follows:
Juanita A. Carnes, CFNP, Chairperson
John Lehman, RPH
Stan Strzempko, M.D.
Daniel Reardon, Director of Public Health
59 Court St.
Room 220
Westfield, MA 01085
Phone:(413)572-6210
Fax:(413)572-6279
STAFF MEMBERS
Barry Searle, Sanitarian
Joseph Rouse, Health Inspector
Debra Mulvenna, Supervising Public Health Nurse
Margaret Doody, Head Clerk
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| H1N1 (swine flu) | Residents can help in the following ways:
*Hand washing and cough etiquette
There will be two types of flu circulating this year, both seasonal and H1N1, which makes hand washing and cough etiquette all the more important. It is any easy way to prevent spread of illness. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand gel. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inside of your elbow if you don’t have a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. Always wash your hands before you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
*Stay home from work or school if you get sick with flu-like illness and avoid contact with others so the virus does not spread
Stay at home until you have been free from fever for at least 24 hours after your last dose of fever-reducing medicine (like Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin).
*Get vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available, especially if you have a medical condition which makes complications from the flu more likely
*Volunteer with the MRC-see link on our homepage
Please see the following link to the MA Department of Public Health Fact Sheet that answers many common questions regarding H1N1 including the groups identified as needing vaccination first. |
| H1N1 (swine flu) fact sheet
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| For more information please go to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health H1N1 website by clicking the link below.
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| Mission | The mission of the Health Department is to ensure the public health and safety of the residents of Westfield by accomplishing the following:
- Environmental Protection
- Public Health Nursing
- Health Inspections and related Code Enforcement
- Administration of a variety of health and safety related programs and services
The Department is comprised of the following two divisions:
- Public Health
- Solid Waste Management
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| Public Health Division | - Title V, State Sanitary Code - This State Regulation governs the construction and repair of septic systems. A percolation test must be conducted on each new home in the City served by a septic system and for any existing home where the system is in failure. The test must be witnessed by a representative from the Health Department. Designs of the new system need to be reviewed and approved by the Department and an inspection of the system must be conducted when installed but prior to being backfilled.
- Housing Inspections are usually performed upon receiving a written complaint from a tenant in a rental property. Inspections are conducted and any violations found are cited and the landlord ordered to correct them.
- Restaurant Inspections - Each restaurant and retail food service establishment is inspected prior to opening by the Department. The State recommends that each establishment be subsequently inspected twice yearly.
- Other Inspections - All public and semi-public pools must be inspected annually as do recreational camps, tanning salons, and any situations that endanger the health and welfare of residents needs to be investigated by the Department.
- Nursing Division - Tuberculosis screening is usually performed weekly by appointment. Immunizations are also available for Westfield residents who qualify by appointment. All communicable diseases must be reported and investigated by the Department and are forwarded to the MA Department of Public Health by the Public Health Nurses. Lead screening for Westfield children is available through cooperation with Noble Hospital for those who are uninsured or underinsured-please call for details. Free flu and pneumonia clinics are conducted for seniors and high-risk residents. Vaccines are ordered from the MA Department of Public Health and distributed by the Department to local providers. The Department nurses are available to assist residents and health care providers with questions regarding public health issues and emergency preparedness.
- Burial Permits - A permit must be obtained for any person who dies within the City of Westfield. All undertakers within the City are licensed with the local Health Department.
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