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Carroll County Public Health reports expanded training, new farm‑worker influenza funding and distribution of safety items
Summary
Public health staff reported a busy quarter: more disease investigations, expanded stop‑the‑bleed and CPR training, a new $6,000 grant to produce avian/seasonal/COVID guidance for farm workers, and purchase of 200 Roth ID tags for child reunification.
Carroll County Public Health provided a quarterly update to the Board of Supervisors on Monday, reporting expanded emergency preparedness training, a targeted grant for farm‑worker influenza education and new safety distributions for residents.
Public health director Maggie (last name not specified in the record) said the department increased distribution of sunscreen through an Iowa Cancer Consortium grant (two gallons this year, up from one previously), completed school immunization audits ahead of the October state deadline and handled a modest rise in communicable‑disease investigations (12 last year and nine reported since July 1).
The department received an additional $6,000 in emergency‑preparedness funding targeted to avian influenza and seasonal influenza education for farm workers, Maggie said. Staff are combining CDC, state public health and workforce resources into a single printed guidance packet for farm workers and will use the grant to cover staff time and printing costs.
Maggie also reported wide use of “stop‑the‑bleed” kits and training: 126 people trained last year (county and city employees) and nearly 300 trained so far this fiscal year, largely through school‑district trainings before the school year. The department purchased kits and wall mounts using emergency preparedness funds but noted the state requires recipients be trained to receive the kits.
Public health has begun distributing Roth ID tags — a reunification aid for car seats created by the Roth ID nonprofit — after purchasing 200 tags for about $1,500 using grant funds. The tags include an emergency contact card, a weatherproof adhesive tag for car seats and tear‑off tabs that can be used as temporary ID bracelets for children in emergencies.
Other updates included county employee‑clinic planning for Oct. 22, continued car‑seat checks, distribution of 50 gun locks provided by Saint Anthony’s (which were exhausted at a senior event), and ongoing work on opioid‑settlement applications; the opioid committee had received two formal applications at the time of the report (an ambulance service and New Opportunities) and will meet Oct. 8 to consider recommendations.
Maggie said the department is recruiting for the county public health physician role after the current physician, Dr. Heim, announced she will leave. Two candidates had expressed interest informally: Dr. Vanille Buma of Saint Anthony’s and Sarah Fleece of Highway 30 Health in Glidden. The county will continue outreach to identify candidates.
Supervisors asked for follow‑up on applications for opioid funds and were updated on public‑health training plans and materials. No funding votes were taken during the presentation.
