January, 2021
Public Health Worksheet
Requirements for the Public Health merit badge:
- Explain what public health is. Explain how Escherichia coli (E. coli), tetanus, AIDS, encephalitis, salmonellosis, Lyme disease, and coronavirus (COVID-19) are contracted. Then, pick any four of the following diseases and explain how each one is contracted and possibly prevented: gonorrhea, West Nile virus, botulism, influenza, syphilis, hepatitis, emphysema, meningitis, herpes, lead poisoning. For all 10 diseases, explain the type or form of the disease (viral, bacterial, environmental, toxin), any possible vectors for transmission, ways to help prevent exposure or the spread of infection, and available treatments.
- Do the following:
- Explain the meaning of immunization.
- Name eight diseases against which a young child should be immunized, two diseases against which everyone should be reimmunized periodically, and one immunization everyone should receive annually.
- Using the list of 10 diseases and conditions in requirement 1, discuss with your counselor those which currently have no immunization available.
- Discuss the importance of safe drinking water in terms of the spread of disease. Then, demonstrate two ways for making water safe to drink that can be used while at camp. In your demonstration, explain how dishes and utensils should be washed, dried, and kept sanitary at home and in camp.
- Explain what a vector is and how insects and rodents can be controlled in your home, in your community, and at camp. Tell why this is important. In your discussion, explain which vectors can be easily controlled by individuals and which ones require long-term, collective action.
- With your parent's and counselor's approval, do ONE of the following:
- Visit a municipal wastewater treatment facility OR a solid-waste management operation in your community.
- Describe how the facility safely treats and disposes of sewage or solid waste.
- Discuss your visit and what you learned with your counselor.
- Describe how sewage and solid waste should be disposed of under wilderness camping conditions.
- Visit a food service facility, such as a restaurant or school cafeteria:
- Observe food preparation, handling, and storage. Learn how the facility keeps food from becoming contaminated.
- Find out what conditions allow micro-organisms to multiply in food, what can be done to help prevent them from growing and spreading, and how to kill them.
- Discuss the importance of using a thermometer to check food temperatures.
- Discuss your visit and what you learned with your counselor.
- Visit a municipal wastewater treatment facility OR a solid-waste management operation in your community.
- Do the following:
- Describe the health dangers from air, water, and noise pollution.
- Describe health dangers from tobacco use and alcohol and drug abuse.
- Describe the health dangers from abusing illegal and prescription drugs.
- With your parent's and counselor's approval, do ONE of the following:
- Visit your city, county, or state public health agency.
- b. Familiarize yourself with your city, county, or state health agency's website.
- Compare the four leading causes of mortality (death) in your community for any of the past five years with the four leading causes of disease in your community. Explain how the public health agency you visited is trying to reduce the mortality and morbidity rates of these leading causes of illness and death.
- Explain the role of your health agency as it relates to the outbreak of diseases.
- Discuss the kinds of public assistance the agency is able to provide in case of disasters such as floods, storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other acts of destruction. Your discussion can include the cleanup necessary after the disaster.
After completing either 7a or 7b, do the following: - Pick a profession in the public health sector that interests you. Find out the education, training, and experience required to work in this profession. Discuss what you learn with your counselor.
Public Health Worksheet
Comments:
Aug 13, 2021 - Malcolm Tietje
If this were being presented during summer camp could the kitchen for the
camp be used for 5.b? (Visit a food service facility, such as a restaurant
or school cafeteria:)
Would camp kitchen be similar to a school kitchen?
Would camp kitchen be similar to a school kitchen?
Aug 14, 2021 - Scouter Paul
@Malcolm - The summer camp I've gone to serves hundreds of people, so I'd
say "Yes".
Dec 21, 2021 - Tom
If an Award or merit badge is mostly completed with maybe one item or so left and it was retired prior
to that item being finished, can it still be earned even after being retired?
Dec 29, 2021 - Scouter Paul
@Tom - The BSA typically gives a very long warning time about a merit
badge being discontinued. They also publish specific discontinuation
dates. After a badge is discontinued, it can not be earned.
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