Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
La Casa's David Briseño requests funding from the Curry County Health Council to help with a car seat program.
Free blood testing for PFAS contamination will be administered in September and October in a program spearheaded by the New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Health.
Preliminary details were revealed by state representatives at Thursday's monthly meeting of the Curry County Health Council.
Kate Cardenas of the Environment Department and Heidi Krapfl of the Department of Heath called the blood testing an inter-agency project for people in an area described as "just outside Cannon Air Force Base."
PFAS are a group of chemicals noted to be contaminating the environment nationwide particularly around military bases where the chemical was in firefighting foam used in training and incidents.
The two rounds of testing will be preceded by an informational meeting at the Clovis Civic Center, 6 p.m. Aug. 27.
Blood testing is set for the Youth Recreation Center in Clovis Sept. 12-18 and Oct. 3 – 9.
The project involves blood tests for residents in an area from the Curry County line northward to an area around Cannon AFB.
Krapfl noted the nationwide PFAS contamination is being investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The meeting was attended by state Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Clovis, who asked Krapfl what will be done for people who are found to be contaminated by PFAS.
Krapfl said people will be informed.
"One of the main points is to help people find out how they've been contaminated," Krapfl said.
The Health Council also heard from David Briseño, practice manager for La Casa Family Health, who requested funding from the council for required training for those who work with the car seats with installation, instruction and such.
Briseño pointed out the state child safety seat program is funded by the NM Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division but the training for those who work on the program is not.
Briseño noted La Casa took over the program from the Clovis Fire Department several years ago.
Briseño noted the Kiwanis Club he belongs to will be looking at investing in supplying the program with 10 car seats a year.
