Most people spend over 90% of their time indoors. Your home (whether you own or rent) is a very important environment where you and your family may spend much of their time.
Meeker, McLeod, and Sibley counties have received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for home assessments. County residents are eligible to have a free healthy homes assessment for their home or apartment or trailer. The healthy homes assessment is based on the Seven Principles of a Healthy Home.
Healthy Homes can help you assess your home and connect you with resources or strategies to make it healthier.
If interested please call Meeker County Public Health at 320-693-5370 or for more information visit MDH Healthy Homes.
The Seven Principles of a Health Home
1. Keep It Dry - Moisture in homes has been linked to a wide range of health problems, from respiratory problems to lead poisoning, from accidental injury to asthma. Moisture creates a favorable environment for mites, rodents, molds, and roaches, all of which are associated with asthma.
2. Keep It Clean - A clean home helps ensure that people are not exposed to contaminants and chemicals, and that pests don't have food, water and a place to live.
3. Keep It Pest Free - Studies show that there is a causal relationship between mice and cockroach exposure and asthma episodes in children with asthma. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) addresses the issue of pests holistically, without using toxic pesticides.
4. Keep It Safe - Most childhood injuries occur at home. Falls, poisoning, and burns are the three most common residential injuries for children.
5. Keep It Contaminate-Free - Homes have many potential contaminate exposure risks, including lead, radon, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, and asbestos. Children are more likely to be exposed to toxicants in higher concentration in the home than outside.
6. Keep It Ventilated - Studies show that respiratory health is related to access to fresh air, increasing a home's fresh air supply reduces moisture, improves air quality and increases respiratory health.
7. Keep It Maintained - Neglected homes are more at risk for moisture, pest, lead paint and accidental injury than homes that are properly maintained.
Public health provides education and referrals about various topics that can impact your environment and your health.
Please contact MCPH at 320-693-5370 for any of the issues listed below.
Food, Beverage, and Lodging Licensing
Contact Minnesota Department of Health for Licensing Jurisdiction regarding Food, Beverage, and Lodging (FBL) Licensing. Please use the map to determine who will license your establishment.
If you have had physical contact with a bat, call your healthcare provider. If you find a bat in your home, capture it. Wait until regular business hours to call the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-5414 for advice.
Indoor Air Quality
If you are concerned about indoor air quality issues such as mold and/or mildew, contact us or the Minnesota Department of Health.
The Minnesota Clear Indoor Air Act which prohibits smoking in all indoor public places.
Meeker County Public Health offers:
- Information about sources of lead
- Assessment of homes to find lead source problems
- Education on how to remove lead sources
Information and education regarding treatment and eradication of head lice is available. Head lice checks are completed at Meeker County Public Health.
Information on radon testing, radon education in collaboration with the American Lung Association and the Minnesota Department of Health. Free Radon test kits are available at the public health office. You can access information on radon at Meeker McLeod Sibley CHS Radon Information.
You may pick up Water Analysis Test Bottles at Meeker County Public Health from RMB Lab located in Detroit Lakes. RMB Lab rates for testing vary depending on type of tests you request. You will need to deliver your Water Analysis Test Bottles yourself to a drop their off sites (i.e. Willmar or Paynesville) .
Public health can refer you to appropriate resources to assist you with additional environmental health concerns other than those listed above.