Environmental Health

Mission

The objective of Environmental Health is to provide a system of support that can give decision-makers like commanders the vital information they need to recognize, assess, and combat environmental health threats. We employ technological and technical capabilities to reduce the risk associated with non-battle injuries.  In garrison and in deployment zones, environmental health provides the services necessary for preserving and enhancing soldier readiness.
Environmental Health programs, services, and capabilities are established and provided for the following specific areas in accordance with AR 40-11 and DA PAM 40-11

Potable Water Program

• Conduct water sampling by request and provide memorandums for bottled water operations as needed

• Conduct Quality Assurance/Quality Control sampling of potable water system

• Water Trailer Certification. CLICK HERE to request for certification

 Food Service Sanitation Program

•  Monthly food service facility sanitation inspections of dining facilities, school cafeterias, Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation-run food establishment.

• One hour in-person Food Handlers Training for newly hired food operators such as those employed by AAFES or other food vendors, Child, Youth and School Services employees operating on Fort Eustis. Classes are open last Friday of every month from 11AM-12PM. CLICK HERE to register.

• A self-paced online food handler training and exam for on-post special event such as Family Readiness Events, bake sales, organization cook-off or potluck. CLICK HERE to take food handler’s course.

• Food and water risk assessment.

 ​Waste management roles and functions

•  Monthly checks on Hazardous Waste/Regulated Medical Waste procedures throughout McDonald Army Health Center and outlying clinics

• Address risks associated with Hazardous Waste/Hazardous Materials throughout the hospital under Environment of Care Committee

 General Sanitation Program

• Conduct facility inspection of Detention Center, Child Development Centers, Family Child Care Homes, barber/beauty shops, gyms, and recreational water facilities

I. Rabies Advisory Board

Radiation Safety Program

• Ensures all stakeholders adhere to radiation and laser safety regulatory guidelines

• Radiation and Laser safety training

• Mosquito and tick surveillance program

• Routine observation food establishment insects and rodents

• Consultation for other entomological pests

• Environmental site assessments

• Pre-deployment briefing

• Heat and cold injury brief. Contact our office for training support

• Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Monitoring. We report variation in heat category during hot summer period and offer training on how to set up, monitor and use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature device

• Epidemiology investigations

• Provide technical assistance to stakeholders

• Field sanitation team certification class – CLICK HERE for class information.

•  DoD Insect Repellent System Fact Sheet

• Mosquito Control Around The Home

• Using Insect Repellents on Children

MilTICK program

• If you have been bitten by a tick you maybe eligible for free tick testing to see what type of tick, how long it was attached, and possible human pathogens associated with the tick

• Eligible personnel for free tick testing: Active-duty service members, National guard members, Reservists, Civilian personnel working for the DoD, Contractors supporting the DoD, Retired service members, and Dependents

  Types of pathogens each tick are tested for:

  • Lyme disease

  • Spotted fever group rickettsioses (including Rocky Mountain Spotted fever)

  • Babesiosis

  • Human granulocytic anaplasmosis

  • Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME)

  • Ewingii ehrlichiosis

  • Panola mountain Ehrlichiosis

  • Powassan Virus

  • Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (Borrelia miyamotoi)

How to submit a free tick sample:

• Safely remove the tick and place it in a plastic bag or covered container
• Contact McDonald Army Health Center at dha.jble.pub-health.mbx.environmental-health@health.mil or (757) 314-8039
• Bring the tick to McDonald Army Health Center Department of Public Health for processing
• Results are sent to the email and phone number when filing the paperwork with McDonald Army Health Center Department of Public Health staff

For more information please see the link below

• https://ph.health.mil/topics/entomology/kits/Pages/HumanTickTestKitProgram.aspx
• https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/data-research/facts-stats/geographic-distribution-of-tickborne-disease-cases.html