Environmental Health

Pools, Campgrounds & Resident Camps

Have fun. Stay safe. 

Camping and swimming can be fun activities that promote health and wellness for individuals of all ages. The SCPH Recreation Inspection program works to reduce the potential for disease or injury during these activities by inspecting RVs, campgrounds, pools, spas, beaches and more. 

We're here to help.

The registered sanitarians at SCPH can help you stay safe, healthy and compliant with all applicable rules and regulations. 

Call 330-926-5600 for more info.

Contact us

Contact

For more information, or to inquire about syringe disposal, call:

(330) 926-5600

Summit County Public Health
1867 W. Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44313
 
NOTE: Medicines should be dropped off at D.U.M.P. boxes only. Please DO NOT bring medications to Summit County Public Health for disposal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For Officers

Emptying & Sorting a D.U.M.P. Receptacle

The following training video, developed by SCPH, demonstrates the proper technique for emptying and sorting a D.U.M.P. box. The video should be reviewed at least once per year by all staff involved in the D.U.M.P. program. 

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About

The Issue

Safe methods of disposal are needed for expired or unwanted medicines. Improper disposal of medicines presents both a public safety and environmental hazard. Summit County Public Health, in collaboration with local community partners, has established a pharmaceutical disposal program for residents to safely dispose of their unused medications. Anyone can simply take unwanted medicine to one of the D.U.M.P. box locations in the county and the medication will be safely destroyed, no questions asked. 

Prescription Abuse

Prescription drug abuse by teens is a serious problem in Ohio. An Ohio Department of Health report indicates that 26.5% of high school students have abused prescription drugs. Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses, but taking them without a prescription to get high or "self-medicate" can be as dangerous and addictive as using illegal street drugs. Painkillers are the most common pharmaceuticals abused by teens. Stimulant abuse is more common among older teens and college students than younger teens. 

Environmental Concerns

Expired or unwanted medicines flushed down the toilet are reaching streams, lakes and our drinking water supplies. Some fish and amphibians that have been exposed to waters contaminated by medications show signs of developmental and reproductive problems. Many medications pass through our sewage treatment plans and septic systems. Antibiotic residuals can be harmful to sewage treatment facilities. 

 

Guidelines for Disposal of Unused Medications

  • Please follow these guidelines when disposing of prescription and over-the-counter medications:
  • Keep the medicines in the original container.
  • Black out or remove your name and address.
  • Secure the container.
  • Deposit the medicines in the disposal boxes at participating Summit County sites.
  • Only deposit pills, capsules, or liquids. Syringes are not accepted at the D.U.M.P. boxes. For syringe disposal, call 330.926.5600.

 

Find a D.U.M.P. Box

Phase II Stormwater

In 2009 SCPH started contracting with the communities of Summit County to conduct the EPA required dry weather screenings for the Phase II Stormwater Management Program. Dry weather screening is performed when there has been at least forty-eight (48) hours without rainfall. During this time, outfalls are screened and determined whether to be flowing or not. An outfall is any point where a conveyance of a storm water system discharges into streams, lakes, and wetlands. If the outfall is found flowing, it will be sampled and taken to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved lab for analysis. The lab analyzes the sample for presence of fecal coliform. A nuisance is declared if the outfall is flowing during dry weather screening and a water sample taken indicates fecal coliform is present in the amount of 5,000 colonies per 100ml or greater. When a nuisance is identified, further investigation of the area is performed to identify the source(s) of the nuisance. This includes inspection of septic systems in the general vicinity.

SCPH screened over 2,500 outfalls between 2009 and 2013, taking approximately 450 water samples. In total, 76 stormwater nuisances were identified throughout the county and investigations were performed in order to identify sources of these nuisances.

A new 5-year screening and sampling cycle of began in 2014. SCPH will screen and sample all identified outfalls in contracted communities throughout Summit County during dry weather during this cycle.

Communities with a Stormwater Contract for 2014-2019

City of Barberton
Bath Township
Boston Township
Village of Boston Heights
Village of Clinton
Copley Township
Coventry Township
City of Green
City of Hudson
Village of Lakemore
City of Mogadore
City of Munroe Falls
City of New FranklinNorthfield Center Township
Village of Northfield
City of Norton
Village of Reminderville
Richfield Township
Village of Richfield
Sagamore Hills Township
Village of Silver Lake
Springfield Township
Summit County Metroparks
City of Tallmadge
Twinsburg Township

For more information regarding Phase II Stormwater management, please call 330-926-5600.

Tick Control

Summit County Public Health conducts surveillance of tick-borne diseases and offers education to the public about how to avoid, identify and remove ticks. Keep reading for more information, or see the FAQ page to download additional resources, including photos to help you identify tick species in Ohio.

Be Tick Smart!

PROTECT against tick bites

Avoid areas where ticks live.

  • Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
  • Walk in the center of trails.
  • Take extra precautions in spring, summer and fall when ticks are most active.

Use tick repellents.

  • Use insect repellents registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) labeled for use against ticks on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.  Always follow the product label.  Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding their hands, eyes, and mouth.
  • Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin.  It remains protective through several washings.  Always follow the product label.  Pre-treated clothing is available and may provide longer lasting protection.

Cover up to keep ticks off your body.

  • Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks.
  • Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and tuck shirts into pants to keep ticks on the outside of your clothing.
  • Light-colored clothing will help you spot ticks more easily

CHECK for ticks

Don't let ticks hitchhike inside on your clothing.

  • Remove ticks from your clothes before going indoors.
  • Examine gear and pets.  Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs.
  • Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors.  If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed.  If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended.

Check your whole body for ticks.

  • Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to more easily find and wash off any ticks that may be crawling on you.
  • Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas.  Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair.

REMOVE ticks as soon as you can

Use a removal method that is proven to work.

  • The best way to remove a tick is to use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
  • Pull away from your skin with steady, even pressure.
  • Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin.  If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers.  If you are unable to remove the mouth-parts easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
  • Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.  Never crush a tick with your fingers.
  • Wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water.
  • Do not use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or any other 'folk' remedies to remove a tick.  These methods do not work.

CDC has developed interactive tool that will guide you through the process of removing attached ticks and seeking healthcare, if appropriate, after a tick bite.

WATCH for symptoms

Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms.  The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses are:

Tick-borne diseases can result in mild symptoms treatable at home to severe infections requiring hospitalization.  Although easily treated with antibiotics, these diseases can be difficult for physicians to diagnose.  However, early recognition and treatment of the infection decreases the risk of serious complications.  So see your healthcare provider immediately if you have been bitten by a tick and experience any of the symptoms described here.

CDC has developed interactive tool that will guide you through the process of removing attached ticks and seeking healthcare, if appropriate, after a tick bite.

 

Contact us

 

page updated 06-05-2025

 

Rabies Prevention

Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system. People and pets can get rabies from the bite of an animal with rabies. It is also possible, but rare, that people or pets may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth or a wound. Rabies is found mostly in wildlife, such as bats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes. Pets can get rabies from infected wildlife. Unvaccinated dogs and cats pose the greatest risk in spreading the disease from wildlife to people. There is still no cure for rabies once symptoms develop, but the disease can be stopped in people if a series of rabies immunizations are given soon after exposure to the virus. Untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in animals and people.

Summit County Public Health can help if you believe you or your pet has been bitten by an infected animal. It's extremely important to seek medical care right away after a bite. Our trained Environmental Health Specialists (EHS) can help guide you on the next steps to get the help you need.

What to do if you're bitten:

  • Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and running water.
  • DO NOT DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE. Go to your family doctor or the nearest emergency room. Call Summit County Public Health (SCPH) at (330) 926-5600 for advice. 
  • If the animal is retained, call SCPH to determine what the next steps/options are. Take care to prevent additional bites.
  • If the animal that bite you has an owner, obtain as much information on the pet owner as you can  such as owner’s name, address, telephone number and rabies vaccination status for the pet.
  • If an animal must be killed, do not damage the head. Rabies testing is done on the brain.
  • When moving a dead animal, wear gloves and use a shovel. Put the animal’s body in a heavy duty plastic bag and place in a protected area away from people and other animals. If necessary, a dead animal may be kept overnight on ice or in a refrigerator until it can be picked up for testing. Do not freeze. Clean the area and tools with one part bleach to 10 parts water.

Report the bite to SCPH by Calling  (330) 926-5600

Complete as much of the Animal Bite/ Exposure Reporting Form as possible and fax to (330) 923-6436 or email to rabies@schd.org within 24 hours. 

Download the form

 

FAQs about Rabies

 

 

 

page updated 08-02-2024

Rodent Control

Rats can be a problem in urban, suburban and rural areas. They infest old buildings and crowded, unsanitary areas that exist in an urban environment. However, they can also be a problem even with newer homes where sanitary conditions exist. Since these rodents eat practically anything humans eat, they may get plenty of food from home gardens, fruit or nut trees and even parts of some ornamental shrubs and flowers. Garbage disposals also attract rats into household and street sewer lines. They are a problem where sanitary sewers are in disrepair. Rats can be a problem in rural areas where food is plentiful and convenient nesting sites are both numerous and hard to eliminate. If SCPH receives a complaint about a rodent problem, SCPH will investigate the area and if signs of rodents are found SCPH can place bait in problem areas to help control rats, SCPH does not bait for mice. SCPH also educates residents on how to eliminate rodent breeding grounds.

Fact Sheets

 

For more information,

Contact us

 

 

page revised 2/29/2024

Mosquito Control

Background

Summit County Public Health has been providing  mosquito control services to the residents of Summit County for 45+ years. The program, which began in 1976, was a response to LaCrosse encephalitis outbreaks within the county.

Due to the West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreak in the U.S. in 1999, SCPH increased its focus on surveillance to detect mosquitoes carrying disease. Surveillance consists of setting 21 strategically located mosquito traps per day in Summit County. The mosquitoes are sent to the Ohio Department of Health for testing for West Nile Virus.  This provides SCPH with information on locations of any infected mosquitoes within the county and where to best focus our mosquito reduction efforts.

In recent years, SCPH has transitioned away from using organophosphate-based pesticides to more environmentally friendly and less toxic products. Currently SCPH is using bacteria-based products to help control larval mosquito populations as well as the least toxic adulticide spray available to the industry. These products are effective at controlling mosquito populations while having very limited impact on non-target species.

In addition, SCPH is excited to announce that we are integrating specialized computer software into our program which will help us increase program efficiency while better helping to identify areas where mosquito activity may impact human health.

SCPH continues to provide education to the public on mosquito breeding sites around the home, mosquito testing for encephalitis, treating areas of standing water for mosquito larva, and evening spraying in areas where mosquitoes are cause for concern.

 

Program Goals

The goals of the SCPH Mosquito Control program are:

  • To reduce the number of disease-carrying and pest mosquitoes in a cost-effective and environmentally-responsible manner.
  • To educate the public on methods of cultural practices that will reduce the number of mosquito breeding sites and methods to reduce the feeding activities of mosquitoes.
  • To have the ability to monitor mosquito populations in Summit County for mosquito-borne diseases and determine population levels for pest species.

 

Program Components

The SCPH Mosquito Control program has four components:

  • MOSQUITO EDUCATION & INFORMATION

Summit County Public Health (SCPH) provides information to the public on matters such as mosquito ecology, vector-borne disease information, proper cultural practices for mosquito larva reduction, and mosquito control methods used by the Mosquito Control Program. To obtain this information call Summit County Mosquito Control at (330) 926-5669 Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.

  • MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE

Surveillance identifies locations where mosquito populations are building, so targeted control measures can be implemented before a problem exists. The object of this program is to collect mosquito specimens for shipment to the Ohio Department of Health for mosquito-related encephalitis testing. Thousands of Culex specimens per year are submitted from the District and are tested for West Nile Virus and St. Louis encephalitis. These mosquitoes are collected using gravid traps. The District has 181 trap sites in the county and over 500 traps are set at these sites each summer.

  • MOSQUITO LARVICIDING

Larviciding is the addition of chemical or other products to a water source to kill mosquito larvae and pupae. The purpose of the program is to reduce the number of mosquito larvae by treating breeding sites from May through September. Presently, there are over 1,300 sites totaling over 600 acres within Summit County that are inspected, with each receiving treatment up to 3 times during the season. Currently, SCPH utilizes naturally occurring bacteria so as to have minimal impact on the environment, including non-target species. To report areas of standing water (mosquito breeding sites), please call (330) 926-5669.

  • MOSQUITO ADULTICIDING

The goal of this program is to reduce the number of adult disease carrying and pest mosquitoes by evening spraying of residential areas with ultra low-volume (ULV) mist spray equipment. Adulticiding is the last line of defense in the control of mosquitoes. Other methods of mosquito control such as source reduction and aggressive larviciding should be considered first. Using the system of integrated pest management, the decision of when and where to spray is based on our mosquito surveillance program. SCPH sets out 21 traps per night in Summit County to determine the location of areas of disease and mosquito activity.

 

Read these frequently-asked questions about mosquitoes:

Learn more

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