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Human Health and Environmental Health Action Plan
FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.
FACT: Even children that seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
FACT: People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips with lead in them.
FACT: People have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.
FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.
U.S. EPA, U.S. CPSC, U.S. HUD
The health of a community not only involves the environmental quality of the community, but the physical and mental health of its residents as well. An efficient community starts with healthy residents. Take a look at your family and yourself. Are you healthy? Do you know where to go if you develop medical problems? Do you follow proper nutritional guidelines? Are you aware of environmental hazards? Health issues affect all members of the family and each generation must deal with specific issues.
"Good physical and mental health throughout the community is essential to allow citizens to participate fully in community life." -From Sustainable Communities Network
To evaluate the health of your community, start with your own family. Think about your family's health as a group and then think about each individual member and the problems that men, women, children, seniors and minorities may face. The results will give you a working knowledge of your health as well as that of your family and it will also point out problem areas that may need assistance. Then, think about your environment. Become aware of potential environmental hazards that may effect you and your family and learn how protection and prevention, changing your lifestyle and introducing healthy alternatives will start you on the path to good health
Human Health Action Plan
Environmental Health Action Plan
Human Health Action Plan
Goals and Objectives
Goals
- To develop a Human Health Profile.
Objectives
- Develop Awareness of Generational Issues- Have family discussions about health changes and stages. Become aware of changes that maybe or are occurring in your life and have family members become familiar with their own health. Know what to expect and consult with your doctor.
- Become aware of your Environmental Health
- Assess the Health of your home
- Develop an exercise plan-this can be done individually or as a family. Exercising daily will increase your energy level and you will want to become more active within your community.
- Focus on Nutrition
- Become Familiar with Health Issues
Now that you have established your goals and are committed to living a healthier life, let's look at ways in which the entire community can be involved. Click here for Human Health Action Plan Indicators and Linkages [PDF, 11pp, 250k, about pdf]
Recommendations for Action Planning
- Participate in Charity Walks
- Create sports leagues for children and adults
- Create and Repair bicycle and walking paths
- Encourage alternative transportation methods through fitness: bike, walk, run, skate to work or school, etc.
- Sponsor theme weeks- Alternative energy week, Fitness week, Eat to a better health week, etc.
- Talk to your local schools- encourage physical education teachers and other teachers to stress the importance of health and nutrition.
- Develop a field day for elementary schools where children spend the day participating in aerobic activities. Combine this with a health fair and extend it to high school students.
These are just a few ideas to get you started toward a healthier you and a healthier community.
Environmental Health Action Plan
Taking steps to reduce and prevent health risks from environmental
factors will greatly increase the health of your family. A valuable
source of information can be found at the National
Association for County and City Health Officials Site. 
The following segment provides resources that will help you to reduce your risk of exposure to a variety of environmental factors. Click here for Environmental Health Action Plan Indicators and Linkages [PDF, 11pp, 250k, about pdf]
Goals and Objectives
Goals
To develop an understanding of Environmental factors and how they relate to health. This includes learning about health hazards associated with common household cleaners and paints, and becoming aware of air quality issues. From this you will gain the knowledge to reduce your risk of exposure from these factors.
Objectives
- To reduce the risk of exposure to environmental health factors.
- Radon is a colorless, odorless gas which enters the home through dirt floors, cracks in the walls and floors, floor drains and sumps. The effects from this gas may include lung cancer. Perform a radon test within your home to determine if levels are safe. Take appropriate measures depending on results.
- Lead From Paint, Dust, and Soil Can Be Dangerous if Not Managed Properly. Become aware of materials in your house that may contain lead. If you are renting or buying a home obtain information pertaining to the amount of lead that may be in the building. If you suspect that your house may contain lead, have your children tested.
- Indoor pollutants include radon, carbon monoxide, lead and other harmful chemicals. These pollutants can cause respiratory illness and other medical problems. Survey the air in your home, place of work and schools. Determine if the quality of the air is healthy and acceptable.
- Air Quality-This includes dangers such as mobile air emissions, stack emissions and other pollutants that are released into the air. Become familiar with pollutants in your community.
- Household Toxics-Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW) are those wastes produced in our households that are hazardous in nature, but are not regulated as hazardous waste, under federal and state laws. Identify those products in your home that may be hazardous and dispose of them properly. Utilize community sponsored waste sites and try to purchase and use environmentally friendly products.
- Ozone- Environmental effects from ozone include skin cancer and other skin diseases. Become familiar with methods to protect your and your family from Ultra-Violet exposure.
Recommendations for Action Planning
Radon
- Provide radon information for community use
- Sponsor Community Radon Education Courses
- Promote National Radon Action Week within the Community
- Reduce level if the radon level in your home is 4 picocuries (level of radiation) per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
- Radon kits can be found at Hardware Stores, Home Improvement Stores and other similar retail markets.
Lead
- Create educational school programs based on the dangers of lead exposure
- Promote a lead education campaign
Indoor Air Quality
- Eliminate harmful sources from Homes, Schools and Businesses
- Have proper ventilation and be sure to maintain woodstoves
- Follow weather proofing guidelines for schools, homes and businesses to ensure proper ventilation.
Air Quality
- Encourage Alternative Transportation Methods
- Encourage Public Transportation Use and Car pooling
- Properly Maintain Automobiles To Reduce CO2 emissions
- Have Regular Emissions Tests done on automobiles
Household Hazardous Wastes
- Sponsor a community household hazardous waste clean out day
- Provide literature about hazardous chemicals that may be used in the home
- Never dump hazardous products down drains, the toilet, or near flowing water, ponds, or lakes.
- Use natural and less-toxic household products whenever possible
Ozone
- Follow skin care guidelines and protect yourself and your family from harmful UV rays.
- Encourage the use of sun tan lotion
- Promote indoor community activities on high ozone days
- Include ozone education within schools
- Refill gas tanks at night and do not 'top off" tanks
- Mow lawns early in the morning
- Support public transportation and car pooling
Click here for assistance with the execution of Environmental Health Risk Reduction and Prevention Actions Plans.
Click here for Human Health Action Plan Indicators and Linkages [PDF, 11pp, 250k, about pdf]
Click here for Environmental Health Action Plan Indicators and Linkages [PDF, 11pp, 250k, about pdf]