Healthy Community Environments

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• Environmental Communicable Disease Control
  • Animals and Your Health
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Food Safety
• Garbage and Solid Waste
• Housing
• Public Buildings

Environmental Communicable Disease Control

The Environmental Public Health Program is responsible for the environmental public health component of communicable disease control. All regular Program activities, such as public health inspections, water monitoring and food handler training aim to prevent illness and the spread of communicable diseases. Specific surveillance, investigation and educational activities are also undertaken to address environmental communicable diseases. These include foodborne and waterborne diseases, such as E. coli, and vectorborne diseases such as West Nile virus.

Environmental Communicable Disease Control Programming

Activities related to environmental communicable disease control that are provided in First Nations communities through the Environmental Public Health Program include:

1. Environmental Public Health Assessment:
   • Undertake surveillance activities as required to prevent and address cases of communicable diseases.
   • Work with Chiefs, Councils, and other public health staff, such as Community Health Nurses, the Regional Medical Officer and provincial authorities as required to address suspected or confirmed cases of environmental communicable diseases. Environmental Health Officers may aid in investigation, source identification, sampling and monitoring upon request.
   • Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to Chiefs, Councils, facility owners, staff and First Nations residents about environmental public health issues related to communicable disease control.
2. Public Education:
   • Provide public education to Chiefs, Councils and community residents to raise awareness about environmental communicable diseases.
3. Training:
   • Provide training to health and First Nations workers about the environmental public health component of communicable disease control.

Related Links

More information about West Nile Virus in First Nations communities can be found on Health Canada's West Nile virus page.

More information about avian influenza in First Nations communities can be found on Health Canada's Influenza (The Flu) page.

Information about other Health Canada communicable disease control activities in First Nations communities that go beyond the scope of environmental public health can be found on Health Canada 's Communicable Disease Control Division page.

General information about communicable disease control in Canada is available on the  Public Health Agency of Canada's website.

Animals and Your Health

While animals provide many benefits to people including companionship, food and clothing, some can also transmit diseases to people. In Canada, there are a number of diseases that humans can get from animals, including West Nile virus,  Lyme disease,  rabies, and hantavirus. More information about these and other issues connected to animals and human health are available on the Animals and Your Health page or the  World Health Organization's website.

What steps can you take to protect your health, and the health of your family?

Symptoms are different from one disease to another, and some can lead to long-term illness, or even death. However, there are some simple precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family:

Around the house:

• Keep your home and yard free of standing water. Trim bushes and grass.
• Safely dispose of all garbage and keep piles of wood raised above the ground.
• Store all food in containers with tightly fitted lids.
• Practice  safe clean-up of mice droppings.

Outside:

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET or other approved products whenever you are likely to be exposed to ticks or insects. Always follow directions on the label. Check out these safety tips for using inspect repellent for more information.
• Avoid unfamiliar or sick animals and birds. Teach your kids to do the same.
• Keep your pets away from wild animals and ensure that vaccines are up-to-date. For more information about pet health, visit the  Canadian Veterinary Medical Association website.

Hunting, Camping, Fishing or Trapping:

• Wash your hands often. Use water and soap. If these are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and a hat when camping, hunting or going into wooded or swampy areas.
• Do not handle or eat sick animals, including birds and fish, or ones that have died from unknown causes.
• Avoid touching the blood, secretions or droppings of wild animals.
• Do not rub your eyes, touch your face, eat, drink or smoke when cleaning wild game.
• Thoroughly cook all wild game meat, birds and fish.

For more information, check out this  field guide for hunters, trappers, anglers and biologists (PDF Version 5,260 K).

What is Health Canada doing to help First Nations address public health risks posed by animals?

The Environmental Public Health Program provides activities in First Nations communities to reduce the public health risk that animals pose to humans. Activities vary from community to community, depending on the region, time of year and needs. Activities may include disease surveillance, such as collecting birds for West Nile virus and avian influenza testing, public education such as community information sessions, and control activities, such as reduction of standing water sites where mosquitoes breed. You can obtain more information throughout this site or by contacting your local Environmental Health Officer or healthcare provider.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

First Nations communities need to prepare for and respond to emergencies such as floods, forest fires, chemical spills, storms, contamination of food or water supplies and disease outbreaks. The community response to health emergencies is led by the Medical Officer of Health in collaboration with Chiefs, Councils and Health Directors. While not the lead in this area, the Environmental Public Health Program participates in community planning and can assist in addressing public health risks resulting from emergencies.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Programming

Activities related to emergency preparedness and response in First Nations communities that are provided through the Environmental Public Health Program include:

1. Environmental Public Health Assessment:
   • Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to Chiefs, Councils and First Nations residents about environmental public health issues related to emergency preparedness and response.
   • Participate in the development, review and revision of First Nations' Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans.

   In the event of an emergency:

   • Provide public health inspections of temporary accommodations and food/water services as required, in collaboration with local health officials.
   • Provide public health inspections of residential and public buildings, drinking water and wastewater disposal systems affected by the event.
   • Advise Chiefs, Councils and the Emergency Response Team about public health risks resulting from the emergency.
2. Public Education:
   • Provide communities with information on environmental public health as it relates to emergency preparedness and response.

Related Links

For more information about the federal government's emergency management activities, please visit  Public Safety Canada's website.

To find out how you and your family can prepare for an emergency, please visit the  Government of Canada's Get Prepared website.

For more information about preparing and responding to a pandemic influenza in First Nations communities, visit Health Canada's Influenza (The Flu) page.

Food Safety

Food safety includes the proper supply, storage, preparation and distribution of food. The Environmental Public Health Program works with Chiefs, Councils, food service operators, community meal programs and residents to prevent food-borne illness in First Nations communities. The Environmental Public Health Program addresses public health issues related to both traditional and conventional foods.

Food Safety Programming

Activities related to food safety in First Nations communities that are provided through the Environmental Public Health Program include:

1. Environmental Public Health Assessment:
   • Provide public health inspections of public food service facilities and community gatherings such as pow-wows, Treaty Days and sports competitions.
   • Review of plans for new or upgraded food service facilities from a public health perspective.
   • Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to Chiefs, Councils, owners, operators, and First Nations residents about public health issues related to food safety.
   • Notify community of food recalls and alerts.
2. Public Education:
   • Provide public education to community residents about food safety including sources, storage, preparation and distribution of both traditional and conventional foods in food service establishments and at home.
3. Training:
   • Deliver food handler training to food service personnel and volunteers at community gatherings.

Related Links

For information about eating well, check out Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide or Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis (which is also available in Inuktitut, Ojibwe, Plains Cree and Woods Cree).

You can also find general information on Health Canada's food and nutrition page.

Garbage and Solid Waste

Solid waste, or garbage, can be a public health hazard if it is not managed properly. For example, abandoned tires, appliances, furniture and cars may pose health and safety risks. Waste disposal sites can attract disease-spreading pests and can leach pollutants that contaminate the air, soil and water, including drinking water supplies. The Environmental Public Health Program works with the community and other agencies to help limit public health risks posed by solid waste disposal.

Solid Waste Disposal Programming

Activities related to garbage and solid waste in First Nations communities that are provided through the Environmental Public Health Program include:

1. Environmental Public Health Assessment:
   • Provide public health inspections of disposal sites and transfer stations. Inspections evaluate the method of solid waste collection, site operation, containment of waste, types of waste being disposed, pest control, and soil and groundwater conditions.
   • Review plans for new or upgraded solid waste disposal sites or practices, such as transfer stations, from a public health perspective.
   • Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to Chiefs, Councils, builders, owners, site operators and First Nations residents about public health issues related to solid waste disposal.
   • Review plans and provide recommendations to Chiefs, Councils and site operators for safe decommissioning of disposal sites.
2. Public Education:
   • Provide public education with respect to public health aspects of solid waste disposal.
   • Provide information/referrals related to recycling programs, disposal of hazardous waste, such as batteries and paints, and safe collection and storage of waste upon request.

Related Links

For more information on how backyard burning can harm your health and what alternatives are available, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's  backyard burning site.

Health and Housing

A healthy home is one where residents have the physical and social conditions necessary for health, safety, hygiene and comfort.

Recognizing that "shelter is a basic prerequisite for health" ( Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion), Health Canada works with First Nations communities,  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation,  Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and First Nations technical services to help address public health issues in housing.

Health and Housing Programming

The Environmental Public Health Program works with First Nations communities and other agencies to help address public health issues in housing and is involved in the following activities:

1. Environmental Public Health Assessment:
   • Provide public health inspections of on-reserve housing upon request. Inspections may include evaluation of indoor air quality, contaminants, pest control, water supply, solid and liquid waste disposal, general safety, structural defects and overcrowding.
   • Upon request, provide advice, guidance and recommendations to Chiefs, Councils, community workers and occupants on public health considerations at the various stages of housing: site and design, construction, occupancy and demolition.
2. Public Education:
   • Provide public education materials and training sessions to stakeholders such as Chiefs, Councils, community workers and occupants about how to maintain a safe and healthy home, and on other relevant public health issues that relate to housing.
3. Training:
   • Provide training sessions upon request on public health issues related to housing.

Related Links

For more information on how to maintain a safe and healthy home, please visit the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's  Your Home and Your Health site.

Public Buildings

Environmental Public Health Program staff work with First Nations communities, owners, operators, employees and users of public buildings, also known as facilities, to help prevent the spread of communicable disease, minimize public health risks and reduce safety hazards.

Public Buildings Inspected by Environmental Health Officers

Environmental Health Officers deliver public health inspections of facilities in First Nations communities that are accessible to the public. These include:

• Health Facilities: Health centres/clinics, nursing stations, hospitals and long-term care facilities.
• Community Care Facilities: Day-cares, group homes, Head Starts, nursing homes, schools, youth drop-in centres, retirement homes, treatment centres and wellness centres.
• Recreational Facilities: Arenas, beaches, billiard halls, bingo halls, bowling alleys, campgrounds, casinos, community centres, curling rinks, golf courses, parks, playgrounds and swimming facilities. In addition, seasonal monitoring of recreational water may be provided.
• General Facilities: Administration offices, animal shelters, barber shops, bed and breakfasts, fire stations, funeral homes, gas stations, hair salons, hotels, industrial sites, lodges, marinas, motels, pet stores, rooming houses and tattoo parlours.
• Temporary Special Event Facilities: Community gatherings such as pow-wows, Treaty Days and sports competitions.

Public Buildings Programming

Activities related to public buildings in First Nations communities that are provided through the Environmental Public Health Program include:

1. Environmental Public Health Assessment:
   • Provide routine inspections of facilities and additional inspections upon request. The scope of inspections includes general sanitation, general structure, safety conditions, food safety practices, water quality, sewage and solid waste disposal, pest control, crowding and air quality.
   • Review plans for new or renovated facilities from a public health perspective on request.
   • Provide information on decommission/renovation hazards that could adversely impact the health of community members or workers on request.
   • Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to Chiefs, Councils, owners, operators, employees and users of facilities pertaining to public health.
2. Public Education:
   • Deliver public education and awareness sessions for Chiefs, Councils, facility operators and community members related to public health and safety within facilities.