Hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and wildfires: recent headlines prove that even disasters that give us some notice – such as hurricanes – can cause far more destruction than expected, and that effective emergency response depends upon preparedness.
Environmental health professionals perform many critical functions during emergency response and recovery, such as
- conducting shelter assessments,
- testing drinking water supplies,
- performing food safety inspections, and
- controlling disease-causing vectors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants to help EHS professionals be prepared for disasters with its newly revamped Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER) Awareness Level Course.
EHTER addresses the role of environmental health responders in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters, including issues and challenges in
- disaster management,
- responder safety and health,
- safe water,
- food safety,
- wastewater,
- building assessments,
- vectors and pests,
- solid waste and debris,
- shelters
EHTER prepares environmental health professionals by providing the knowledge, skills, and resources to address the environmental health concerns that result from emergencies and disasters.
“The concepts covered during the EHTER course were very helpful during [a recent] emergency and our subsequent response activities…we hope to secure the same training for all county environmental health staff as well as other public health staff and emergency responders,” said Geoffrey Snyder, Environmental Health Director in Madison County, New York
