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Step 1.2 Gathering Health Concerns and Other Information

Types of Information

A site visit is useful for collecting particular types of information. Two main benefits are that the health assessor may see how people might come in contact with chemicals from the site and learn what concerns community members have about the site.

Decide which items in the list below would be available from a site visit.  Then click on the View Correct Selections link to view the correct choices.

  • Visual confirmation of community size and composition
  • Background information and site history
  • Visual sense of the land and natural resource uses
  • Environmental contamination information
  • Community health concerns
  • Visual idea about the movement of contaminants
  • Information about births, deaths, and diseases in the community's population

View Correct Selections link

The following information types might be available from a site visit (if not, such information can be gathered following the site visit):

checkmark Community health concerns (This information is usually gathered at meetings held in association with site visits, but meetings may be held throughout the public health assessment process.)

checkmark Visual confirmation of community size and composition

checkmark Visual sense of the land and natural resource uses

checkmark Visual idea about the movement of contaminants

The following items would be available from other sources:

Item

Reason

Background information and site history

General information is gathered before the site visit, and more detailed information, such as background information and site history, is collected after the visit.

Environmental contamination information

Such information is generally collected after the site visit, unless the community and environmental agencies are able to provide it earlier.

Information about births, deaths, and diseases in the community's population

This information is generally gathered after the site visit.

What's the best way to make sure that important details are captured during the site visit?

What's the best way to make sure that important details are captured during the site visit?

Health assessors can capture details about the site effectively by using the tools that are available for organizing information at the site, making notes at the site, and taking photographs or videos. Upon returning from a site visit, health assessors can present the information to several coworkers and have an open discussion about the possible pathways. With their help, the health assessor can compile a list of information that is still needed to complete the assessment.

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