Health information now at your fingertips

Twenty-five years ago, before surfing the Internet was one of the world’s favorite sports, I kept a personal computer in a spare bedroom upstairs, complete with a keyboard, mouse, pad and PCU with a miniature monitor that sat on top.  
Ours was an old house built in 1902, and in the winter we often had mice in the kitchen. My preschool-aged children were delighted when a mouse would scurry under the table. From December through February, I would set out a trap under the floor panel of the refrigerator. One morning I discovered the trap was missing. Later I discovered that my clever 4-year-old son had moved it upstairs to my desk, carefully placing the trap right next to my computer mouse.
Perhaps this is a memory that only a baby-boomer parent can appreciate, but more than a quarter of a century later, a simple click of a mouse opens up a vast world of information: a search engine, a website, an online encyclopedia carried in your pocket. A world at your fingertips.  
I find myself waxing reflective because today Clear Creek Public and Environment Health announces a new Web site designed to put a wealth of information at the tip of your fingers: www.Clear
CreekHealth.us
We’ve been working on this website for several months, and although not entirely complete, we believe it provides our residents with a wealth of health, safety, emergency and prevention information. The idea of the website was born of necessity following last year’s H1N1 experience.  
Constituents wanted immediate access to information and answers to their questions:  Was there an outbreak in our county? When and where would vaccine be available?  If we had a public health emergency, how would they be notified? One week director Aaron Kissler counted 240 voice mail messages.
When you visit the website (and we hope you will), you will find four tabbed categories (Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health, Nursing Services and Health Education/Special Events). Drop-down menus from the tabs help you easily navigate the site. In addition, we have included an interactive component (an on-line journal or blog) that allows you to talk with us or provide comments and suggestions.
Is it my imagination or have search engines and websites rendered phone books almost obsolete? We are pleased that on ClearCreekHealth.us, you can find the names of the staff, job functions and phone numbers as well as a list of our offices and facilities and their office hours. Convenient, efficient and quick information any time day or night. Of course, if you would prefer to talk with someone in person, our staff is on hand during regular business hours through the work week.
If you are clueless about what your Public and Environmental Health Department does, then this is the place to find out: www.ClearCreekHealth.us. Here you can find disease prevention, environmental safety information, and local health services and events, all with just a simple click of your mouse or mobile device — no mouse trap necessary.

Linda Trenbeath may be reached at ltrenbeath@co.clear
creek.co.us or by calling 303-679-2386.