Welcome to the Brown County Health Department
The Brown County Health Department encourages organized community efforts to address public health issues by applying medical, scientific and technical knowledge to prevent disease and promote health.
Last Updated 04/13/2020
To contact the Indiana State Department of Health’s COVID-19 HotLine call: (877) 826-0011 or visit their website:
https://coronavirus.in.gov/
For current information, go to Facebook and search for: Brown County COAD Community Organizations Active in a Disaster. A group of local organizations and leaders stepped in to help create and up-date this information when disaster strikes. Be sure to Like and Share this page.
If you need help with essential needs and emergencies related to food, medicine, transportation, etc., call the Brown County Coronavirus Assistance Hotline at 812-988-0001.
Here is a list of local restaurants with carry-out and delivery menus. To access the document, CLICK HERE or copy and paste into your web browser: https://19aznq47tjgc24ewn3215ef2-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Brown-County-Restaurants-COVID-19-032020.pdf
To volunteer, visit: https://serv-in.org/
For questions, please call the Brown County Health Department at 812-988-2255 or the Indiana State Department of Health at 877-826-0011, #1, or visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov
For medical emergencies, call 911.
https://coronavirus.in.gov/
For current information, go to Facebook and search for: Brown County COAD Community Organizations Active in a Disaster. A group of local organizations and leaders stepped in to help create and up-date this information when disaster strikes. Be sure to Like and Share this page.
If you need help with essential needs and emergencies related to food, medicine, transportation, etc., call the Brown County Coronavirus Assistance Hotline at 812-988-0001.
Here is a list of local restaurants with carry-out and delivery menus. To access the document, CLICK HERE or copy and paste into your web browser: https://19aznq47tjgc24ewn3215ef2-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Brown-County-Restaurants-COVID-19-032020.pdf
To volunteer, visit: https://serv-in.org/
For questions, please call the Brown County Health Department at 812-988-2255 or the Indiana State Department of Health at 877-826-0011, #1, or visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov
For medical emergencies, call 911.
Address:
201 Locust Lane
P.O. Box 281
Nashville, Indiana 47448
201 Locust Lane
P.O. Box 281
Nashville, Indiana 47448
Phone: (812) 988-2255
Fax: (812) 988-5601
Email: bchealth@browncounty-IN.us
Fax: (812) 988-5601
Email: bchealth@browncounty-IN.us
Please call the front office staff if you have any questions about: Septic Permits, Septic Searches or Spec Sheets.
BACK TO SCHOOL! The Brown County Health Department now accepts insurance for vaccinations! Schedule appointments whether you have insurance or not by calling 812-988-2255. Complete your Back-To-School-To-Do List today and avoid paying a doctors fee.
The Brown County Health Department now accepts credit or debit cards. We also accept cash (when paying in person), personal checks, money orders and cashier's checks.
NEW! Forms for the Brown County Health Department are now accessible on both the individual services pages and on the Links/Forms page to help make finding and downloading our forms easier.
NEW! Mushroom questions? Here is the State of Indiana's recommended mushroom experts: https://www.in.gov/isdh/files/May%2018.xlsx.pdf
2020 Restaurant License Renewals
The Annual Food Permit application for Brown County for 2020 is now available. Completed application forms and payment are due between January 2nd and January 31st. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot take money prior to January 2nd.
For seasonal operations, licenses need to be renewed prior to opening. Special events (i.e. Valentines Day openings) licensing must be in place. All year/ non-seasonal permits paid after the 31st of January will be subject to a $10/day fine.
Original signed copy of the application are required to issue the license. We cannot accept scanned copies. You can mail this signed form to us or drop it off at the office. We do take credit and debit cards, money orders and cash for a 3% fee. Please call the office if you have any questions.
Annual Licensing Letter 2020.pdf
Annual License Application 2020.pdf
Checklist for Non-Profit Organizations.pdf
For seasonal operations, licenses need to be renewed prior to opening. Special events (i.e. Valentines Day openings) licensing must be in place. All year/ non-seasonal permits paid after the 31st of January will be subject to a $10/day fine.
Original signed copy of the application are required to issue the license. We cannot accept scanned copies. You can mail this signed form to us or drop it off at the office. We do take credit and debit cards, money orders and cash for a 3% fee. Please call the office if you have any questions.
Annual Licensing Letter 2020.pdf
Annual License Application 2020.pdf
Checklist for Non-Profit Organizations.pdf
COVID-19 (Corona Virius) Information:
Winter Weather Preparedness
Since the winter is almost upon us, here are some helpful cold weather safety tips from the Brown County Health Department;
Make a winter survival kit for your home;
1) Food that needs no cooking or refrigeration: bread, crackers, dried fruit, granola bars, pop-tarts, candy bars etc..
2) Water stored in clean containers: 5 gallons per person
3) Medicines you may need
4) Flashlight with extra batteries
5) Battery powered radio
6) Power pack so you can recharge your cell phone without electricity
7) Hand warmers and Extra blankets
If you are over 65, check the temperature of your home more frequently. Older adults make less body heat and are more prone to developing hypothermia. Shivering, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, are some of the symptoms of hypothermia. Check on your elderly neighbors!
Make an emergency kit for your car;
1) Blankets
2) First aid kit
3) Tool kit with a Collapsible shovel, Jumper cables and a Tow rope
4) Container of water
5) Flashlight with extra batteries
6) Snacks: peanut butter crackers, candy bars, Vienna sausages, tuna in pouches, etc..
7) Extra gloves and Extra socks (in case your feet get wet)
8) Bag of sand or kitty litter (to use for traction on ice or snow)
If you do have to go outside, wear a hat, gloves, several layers of clothing, a scarf and water resistant shoes or boots. Don't ignore shivering, it's a sign that you are losing body heat.
For more helpful tips, see http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter
Make a winter survival kit for your home;
1) Food that needs no cooking or refrigeration: bread, crackers, dried fruit, granola bars, pop-tarts, candy bars etc..
2) Water stored in clean containers: 5 gallons per person
3) Medicines you may need
4) Flashlight with extra batteries
5) Battery powered radio
6) Power pack so you can recharge your cell phone without electricity
7) Hand warmers and Extra blankets
If you are over 65, check the temperature of your home more frequently. Older adults make less body heat and are more prone to developing hypothermia. Shivering, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, are some of the symptoms of hypothermia. Check on your elderly neighbors!
Make an emergency kit for your car;
1) Blankets
2) First aid kit
3) Tool kit with a Collapsible shovel, Jumper cables and a Tow rope
4) Container of water
5) Flashlight with extra batteries
6) Snacks: peanut butter crackers, candy bars, Vienna sausages, tuna in pouches, etc..
7) Extra gloves and Extra socks (in case your feet get wet)
8) Bag of sand or kitty litter (to use for traction on ice or snow)
If you do have to go outside, wear a hat, gloves, several layers of clothing, a scarf and water resistant shoes or boots. Don't ignore shivering, it's a sign that you are losing body heat.
For more helpful tips, see http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter
Food Manager's Certification Class
CANCELLED - CALL FOR UPDATES…
The Brown County Health Department will host another ServSafe class on May 12 & 13th at the Brown County Annex Building. Class will start both days at 8:30. On the 12th the class will end at 12:30pm and on the 13th the test will be given at the end of class starting at about noon. There will be a two hour time-slot to complete the test.
Cost for the class, text and test is $150. BCHD accepts cash, check and debit credit cards as payment. The Text is the 7th edition of the ServSafe Food Manager. You can pay for the class and pick up the test anytime in advance of the class. Our office is open 8-4 from Monday to Friday at 201 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN Call 812-988-2255 for more information or to reserve a place in this class.
Cost for the class, text and test is $150. BCHD accepts cash, check and debit credit cards as payment. The Text is the 7th edition of the ServSafe Food Manager. You can pay for the class and pick up the test anytime in advance of the class. Our office is open 8-4 from Monday to Friday at 201 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN Call 812-988-2255 for more information or to reserve a place in this class.
Food Safety Education Class
This FREE food safety class can be provided either at the County Building or your restaurant or food service establishment. This is a basic class that discusses the ways to help prevent food borne illness and is geared towards service staff, dishwashers, kitchen help and management. This is not a certified class and will not meet the requirements for a Certified Food Handler, but it will give staff a working knowledge of the reasons behind some of the Food Code regulations.
Contact Jennifer Heller, EHS at the Brown County Health Department to set up a time and location for presentations. (812) 988-2255
Contact Jennifer Heller, EHS at the Brown County Health Department to set up a time and location for presentations. (812) 988-2255
Brown County Health Department Sharps Containers Disposal Program:
In an effort to ensure proper disposal of sharps (needles, syringes, and lancets), the Brown County Health Department is now participating in a sharps container disposal program. This is a free service for county residents who may use sharps for themselves, family members, pets, and/or livestock. Sharps containers may be picked up at the Health Department M-F, 8:30-3:30, with the exception of holidays.
A full, sealed sharps container can be returned to the Health Department for free disposal and an empty one received at that time. Sharps containers are for sharps only. No other waste is to be placed in the container. The Health Department will only collect and dispose of FDA-cleared sharps containers. Alternative sharps containers, such as detergent bottles or coffee cans, will not be accepted. This is not a syringe exchange program.
The Brown County Health Department thanks you for participating in this program in an effort to keep sharps out of our daily trash and helping to maintain Brown County as a beautiful place to live and work.
A full, sealed sharps container can be returned to the Health Department for free disposal and an empty one received at that time. Sharps containers are for sharps only. No other waste is to be placed in the container. The Health Department will only collect and dispose of FDA-cleared sharps containers. Alternative sharps containers, such as detergent bottles or coffee cans, will not be accepted. This is not a syringe exchange program.
The Brown County Health Department thanks you for participating in this program in an effort to keep sharps out of our daily trash and helping to maintain Brown County as a beautiful place to live and work.
Tips to Help Avoid Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Reduce Mosquito Populations:
The State Health Department has identified that the first positives for West Nile Virus have started to come in, 2 counties so far (not Brown County yet).
Do you want to learn how you can help avoid mosquito-borne diseases
and reduce mosquito populations? CLICK HERE
Do you want to learn how you can help avoid mosquito-borne diseases
and reduce mosquito populations? CLICK HERE
Here's some timely tips for summer bites and stings...
Reference: Indiana Poison Center 1-800-222-1222
Avoiding bites and stings;
1) Pour drinks from cans into cups so you can see if there are any insects in the can
2) Always wear shoes outside
3) Don't wear perfume or use shampoo that is flowery smelling or fruity, insects are drawn to these odors.
IF you are stung;
1) Wash the skin that has the bite
2) Use ice packs on the bite for 20 minutes then take off and rewarm the skin before putting the ice pack back on. Best not to have it contact skin directly, wrap it in a damp light towel or rag before applying to the bite.
3) Elevate the stung body part
4) If the person is not allergic - use benedryl or ibuprofen to help pain and itching
IF A PERSON IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING IT COULD BE AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION --- CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY, also call 911 if;
The bitten or stung person gets a rash or itching on most of their body
Feels dizzy
Feels sick or nauseous
Has chest pain
If you use repellent, wash off your skin and change clothes as soon as you come inside
Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants sprayed with repellent when you go outside. Try to stay inside after dusk when mosquitoes feed.
Reference: Indiana Poison Center 1-800-222-1222
Avoiding bites and stings;
1) Pour drinks from cans into cups so you can see if there are any insects in the can
2) Always wear shoes outside
3) Don't wear perfume or use shampoo that is flowery smelling or fruity, insects are drawn to these odors.
IF you are stung;
1) Wash the skin that has the bite
2) Use ice packs on the bite for 20 minutes then take off and rewarm the skin before putting the ice pack back on. Best not to have it contact skin directly, wrap it in a damp light towel or rag before applying to the bite.
3) Elevate the stung body part
4) If the person is not allergic - use benedryl or ibuprofen to help pain and itching
IF A PERSON IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING IT COULD BE AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION --- CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY, also call 911 if;
The bitten or stung person gets a rash or itching on most of their body
Feels dizzy
Feels sick or nauseous
Has chest pain
If you use repellent, wash off your skin and change clothes as soon as you come inside
Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants sprayed with repellent when you go outside. Try to stay inside after dusk when mosquitoes feed.
Community Health Resources:
Adult Stay Well Clinics are held monthly at Hickory Ridge. Nurses perform general screenings for no charge at these clinics.
Adult Stay Well Clinics are held monthly at Hickory Ridge. Nurses perform general screenings for no charge at these clinics.
Important Health Information:
For current information on safety concerns in Indiana, please contact the State Board of Health web page at:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact our office at:
Phone: (812) 988-2255
For current information on safety concerns in Indiana, please contact the State Board of Health web page at:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact our office at:
Phone: (812) 988-2255