KINGWOOD — Beginning July 1, a new food handling code will require establishments serving food to the public to have a certified food handler on each shift.
The individual can be certified through either a health department or have a national certification. Nonprofits will be exempt, according to V.J. Davis, director of the Preston County Health Department (PCHD).
Davis explained the new federal guideline at Tuesday’s Preston County Board of Health meeting.
Board of health members voted to charge $75 for classes for a three-year certification. Certification renewal will be $35. To be certified for a three-year period, food handlers will be required to attend a four-hour class and pass the Safe Food Handling Practices test.
Renewing the three-year certification will require passing a second test. Restaurants, fast food services and grocery stores that make and sell prepared food must comply with the code.
“We will be sending letters to local food services letting them know certification will be a requirement as of July 1,” Davis said. He said food services will have until July 1, 2020, to have their personnel trained. “We’ll accept Service Safe certification and Person in Charge certifications from other counties,” Davis said.
In other business, Davis said a Your Community Foundation grant will provide funding for the Smile Express to visit Preston County seven times this year. Smile Express is the Monongalia County Health Department’s mobile dental program. It focuses on services for school aged children and pregnant women.
“The program will start after school is out,” Davis said. “We have to find areas to park it in.”
Davis said the program does not compete with local dentists. Smile Express provides X-rays and cleanings. If further work is needed they refer the patients to a local dentist.
Dr. Fred Conley said local teachers and students are better equipped for emergencies thanks to a donation from Mon Health Systems. He said Mon Health donated Stop the Bleed kits to county schools. Each kit contains a tourniquet, gloves, combat gauze, medical shears, a compression bandage and quick clot.
“We want to teach the teachers how to use them, then the students and the public,” Conley said.
He said training with the kits will be available to groups and organizations at no charge. To set up a training session call 304- 329-1400, extension 1835.
“It’s something everyone should know how to do,” Conley said about stopping bleeding in an emergency.
Twitter @DominionPostWV
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
