Contact Information

Direct Line: 732-356-8090

Click here for additional information http://www.middlebrookhealth.org

Health Officer/Director: Kevin G. Sumner
732-356-8090 ext. 252
ksumner@middlebrookhealth.org

Registered Environmental Health Specialist: Nancy Lanner
732-356-8090 ext. 251
nlanner@middlebrookhealth.org

Registrar of Vital Statistics: Jean Ross
732-356-8090 ext. 250
jross@middlebrookhealth.org

Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics: Mary Ann Schamberger
732-356-8090 ext. 254
mascham@middlebrookhealth.org

Rabies Clinic - click for schedule

MIDDLE-BROOK REGIONAL HEALTH OFFERS ANNUAL FLU CLINICS - click for schedule

Meetings

The Board of Health holds its regular meetings on the first Tuesday of the following designated months beginning at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Middlesex Public Library (1300 Mountain Avenue, Middlesex)

January
March
May
June
September
October

The public is welcome to attend!

Registrar of Vital Statistics

The Middlesex Board of Health provides the services of two registrars' of vital statistics to assist you in obtaining the following items:

Death Certificates and Birth Certificates
Death certificates and birth certificates are only available in Middlesex for those individuals who actually died or were born in Middlesex Borough. In order to obtain these certificates for individuals who were born or died in a medical facility one must contact the registrar of the town where the medical facility is located.

Marriage Licenses
If the bride is a resident of New Jersey then the marriage license must be obtained from the registrar of the municipality in which she resides. If she is not a resident of the State the application should be made in the town where the groom lives. If both the bride and groom are non-residents the license must be obtained from the registrar where the marriage is to be performed.
The local registrar cannot issue the marriage license until 72 hours after the application. The Middlesex registrars recommend the application be started approximately three weeks prior to the ceremony as the license is valid for thirty (30) days after it is issued.
Individuals seeking a marriage license should call the registrars at 732-356-8090 extension 250 or 254 to schedule an appointment for the application. When the application is made individuals should bring the following items with them: Proof and residency and age, divorce decree and/or death certificates, if applicable, a witness over the age of 18 that knows both the bride and groom, and $28.00 (exact change). If the bride and groom are not available at the same time for application separate appointments can be made, but the same witness must attend both meetings.
Following a marriage ceremony certified copies of the marriage can be obtained from the registrar from the municipality where the ceremony occurred. Certified copies may be needed to change names at motor vehicle and social security, as well as at other agencies. In order to obtain a certified copy call the registrar to be sure the copy can be obtained in Middlesex. At the time the certified copy is issued you will have to supply satisfactory proof of identity, $10.00 exact change for each copy, and complete a short application form.
In our changing times access to certain information has become more difficult and cumbersome. The Middlesex Registrars will try to make this process as painless as possible. If you have any questions regarding vital statistics and obtaining information please call the registrars at the Board of Health.

Radon Testing

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Since it is a gas, it can be released into the air you breathe. Although the amount of radon in outdoor air is low, radon can become concentrated indoors when drawn directly into a home through its foundation. When inhaled, radon can cause damage to lung tissue that may eventually lead to lung cancer. The greater the amount of radon in your home, the greater the risk to your health. Elevated radon levels are easy to correct and doing so will reduce your health risk. Therefore, it is important to test your home to find out if there is an unacceptable level of radon.
Start with an initial test. Its purpose is to find out if radon may be a problem in your home. You can test your home yourself and at low cost by purchasing a canister from the Board of Health for $18.00. Residents are provided with complete information as to how to do the test. All information obtained is strictly confidential. If you wish to purchase a canister, stop by the Health Office in Borough Hall. If you wish to hire someone to do the test for you, call 1-800-648-0394 for a list of certified testing firms.

Health Services

Your health department provides many services. These services fall into two categories: mandated services and elective services. A short list of the mandated services includes providing health officer services, laboratory services, public health nursing services, food establishment and swimming pool inspections, communicable and occupational disease investigations, maternal & child health services, adult health services and numerous other programs. Examples of our elective services include educational programs, environmental pollution investigations, tobacco sale enforcement, home health care, and our radon-testing program. In addition, we are actively involved in emergency preparedness, health assessments and service development. For more detailed information please visit our new website at www.middlebrookhealth.org. This site is still under development and we are interested in your thoughts and comments about its content. Please let us know by e-mail at mbrhc@middlebrookhealth.org or call us at 732-356-8090.
www.middlebrookhealth.org

Lead Poisoning Prevention

Scientists have found that lead can disrupt the normal growth and development of a child's brain and central nervous system. If this exposure happens at a critical time in brain development, the damage can be permanent. Young children are also more likely to be harmed by exposure to lead because the normal behavior of children - crawling on the floor, playing in dirt, putting objects in their mouths - puts them into immediate contact with any lead that might be present in their environment. Most lead poisoning in children is due to their swallowing or breathing particles of very fine household dust or soil that have been contaminated with lead. This fine dust is very easily absorbed once it gets into the body. Very high levels of lead can cause seizures, severe brain damage resulting in mental retardation, coma, and even death. Lower levels can cause stomach pains and anemia. Long term exposure to lead, even at relatively low levels, have been found to be associated with decreased hearing, lower intelligence, hyperactivity, attention deficits, and problems in school.
While poor children and children who live in cities are at higher risk than other children, there is so much lead, in so many places, in the environment in New Jersey that all children in this state are at risk of lead poisoning. There have been cases of lead poisoning in children reported every year in every county in the state. Lead can be found in lots of places in the environment, such as:
• Lead-based oil paint on buildings. Lead paint was banned in New Jersey in 1971, but not nationwide until 1978, so any house built before 1978 may contain lead paint. Any house built before 1950 may be a particular risk, since paint made before then had very high (up to 50%) levels of lead pigments.
• In the soil, especially near factories that used lead, along heavily traveled roads (due to lead in gasoline), and on farms and orchards where lead arsenate pesticides were used.
• In the water, if the building has lead pipes, or lead solder connecting the pipes.
• On the clothes of adults who work in industry that uses lead.
• In common hobbies, such as stained glass, pottery making, or home manufacture of fishing sinkers or bullets.
• On consumer products, such as pottery, toys, crayons, and vinyl mini-blinds imported from countries that do not ban the use of lead in these products.
New Jersey State law (Public Law 1995, chapter 328) requires every physician, nurse practitioner, and health care facility to screen all children under six years of age who come to them for care. Parents have the right to refuse to have the test done for any reason. There is no requirement that children be screened for lead poisoning before they can go to school or child care. All children should be screened for lead poisoning at 12 and 24 months of age. Any child older than 3 years, but less than 6 years old, who has never previously been screened, should also be screened. In addition, any child who is six months of age or older, and is exposed to a particular lead hazard, should be screened. State law (Public Law 1995, Chapter 316) requires every health insurance plan covering a group of 50 or more persons, including HMO's and Managed Care, to cover the cost of lead screening and childhood immunizations, without any deductible. For those who do not have health insurance, free screening, is available through your local health department and the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services Laboratory. Every local health department in the state is required to provide well child services for its community, including lead screening and immunization. For the dates, times, and locations of your local Child Health Conference, call us at 732-356-8090.