Public Health Merit Badge

1. Public Health Merit Badge

2. Explain what public health is. -The act of preventing disease and promoting good health to the public -Protecting against any health hazards Requirement 1a

3. Explain how the following are contracted. -E. Coli: found in human/animal digestive systems; during butchering or other food prep, it can get contaminated with bad bacteria;treatment: hydration, supportive personal care, antibiotics -Tetanus: known as ‘lockjaw’; not the rust that causes it, but the dirt and low oxygen environment of the rust that provides the environment for the bacteria Requirement 1a continued -HIV/AIDS: sexually transmitted; use of dirty needles; mother to child (breastfeeding, birth); replicates itself inside human white blood cells responsible for controlling our immune system -Malaria: transmitted thru bites of infected mosquitoes -Salmonellosis: occurs by ingesting food products contaminated w/ it -Lyme disease: transmitted by deer tick

4. Choose 4 diseases -West nile virus: contracted by mosquitoes; prevention:use insect repellent, eliminate stagnant water sources Requirement 1b -Zika: transmitted by animal or insect bites/stings or sexually transmitted; prevention: insect repellent w/ DEET, sleep in screened or air conditioned rooms, cover exposed skin -Influenza: transmitted by airborne droplets, touching contaminated surfaces, inhalation of virus-laden aerosols -Meningitis: transmitted from person-to-person thru droplets respiratory or throat secretions from carriers; preventions: vaccines, wash hands, don’t share foods/drinks/lip balm, stay healthy

5. -West Nile Virus: form- virus; vectors-mosquitoes transmit virus from birds; prevention-insect repellent, eliminate stagnant water sources; treatment-no disease treatment, supportive personal care Vectors, prevention, treatments -Zika: form-virus; vectors-transmitted by animal or insect bites/stings or sexually transmitted; prevention- insect repellent w/ DEET, cover exposed skin, sleep in screened rooms Requirement 1c -Influenza: form-virus; vectors-transmitted by airborne droplets, touching contaminated surfaces; prevention-flu vaccines, don’t touch face w/ unwashed hands, cover mouth;treatments-rest and fluids, let body fight infection on its own -Meningitis: form-virus; vectors-person-to-person thru respiratory droplets or throat secretions; prevention-vaccines, wash hands, don’t share food/drinks/lip balms; treatments-intravenous antibiotics and sometimes corticosteroids, supportive care

6. Explain meaning of immunization. -when someone’s immune system is trained to protect a person from disease Requirement 2a

7. Name disease immunizations. -Young child: hepatitis B, rotavirus, tetanus, pneumococcal, varicella, hepatitis A, influenza, measles -Everyone periodically: tetanus and diphtheria Requirement 2b -Everyone annually: influenza

8. Disease w/ no immunizations. -Malaria -HIV/AIDS -West nile virus Requirement 2c -Lead poisoning -Gonorrhea -Emphysema

9. Importance of safe drinking water. Common agents of concern found in water: -bacteria -protozoa Requirement 3 -chemicals -More than 5 million people die each year from diseases caused by unsafe drinking water

10. 2 ways to make water safe to drink. -boiling and chemical treatment -use a clean rag to wipe leftover food scraps; have a wash pan, rinse pan, and a sanitize pan; rinse all pans out w/ water from sanitize pan, allow dishes to air dry Requirement 3 continued

11. Explain what a vector is. Requirement 4 -It transmits infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another -controlling disease in home/community: proper trash storage, eliminate standing water, remove debris/weed overgrowth -campsite: proper food storage,leave doors/windows closed, check for ticks twice a day, keep tent/campsite clean

12. Observe food preparation, handling, storage. -Unload products-inspect for damage-check temp.,quality,quantity-enter in inventory,put away -storage~ dry/canned foods- store them at optimal temp. -products requiring refrigeration:fridges/freezers, each one has multiple temp. Zones and humidity levels Requirement 5b

13. Micro-organisms -6 main conditions for bacterial growth:food, PH level, temp., time, oxygen, moisture Requirement 5b(2) -how to kill them: canning, sterilisation, heating, freezing below -18 degrees celsius stops growth -prevention: keep foods at right temp., keep raw food away from ready to eat food, wait for food to cool down before putting in fridge

14. Importance of using a thermometer. -only reliable way to make sure food is safe Requirement 5(3)

15. Health dangers -Air pollution: sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone, toxins; health conditions~ asthma, lung cancer, allergies Requirement 6a -Water pollution: heavy metals, pesticides, disinfection on by products; health conditions~ cancer, pneumonia -Noise pollution: headphones, transportation, shooting sports, industrial, households; health conditions~ hearing loss, stress/depression

16. Health dangers from tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. -Tobacco: contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds; smoking causes emphysema and long term cancer -Alcohol: absorbed by the stomach, enters blood stream, processed by the liver; over-consumption leads to a condition called cirrhosis Requirement 6b -Drug abuse: all drugs mess w/ the body’s chemistry; overdose can lead to serious illness or even death

17. Abusing illegal and prescription drugs. -The most frequently misused medications are opioid painkillers, depressants used for anxiety and sleep disorders, and stimulants that treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Requirement 6c -negative effects of abusing drugs: health problems, accidents, addiction, legal trouble, poor academic performance

18. Careers in public health. -I.T. specialists -Nutritionist -Epidemiologist Requirement 8 -Health educators -Public health nurse -Social and community service manager