Connecting the past and the present: Historical and environmental awareness of the community of baxterville, Mississippi

Background and Issues: Both the historical background and environmental assessment and concerns are important aspects of a community assessment. In Baxterville, Mississippi in 1964 and 1966 a series of nuclear detonations in underground salt domes were completed, first with Project Salmon followed by Project Sterling. Exploring the history of the area, information on past nuclear bomb detonations in the local salt domes, the past concerns of the local residents, and the present use and description of the land are explored as a part of community assessment. Description: PHN undergraduate students and other interdisciplinary groups tour the area for discovery of the past events and the connections to present day populations. Local residents are interviewed and surveyed as a part of the community assessment including the awareness of past area events and any current and future health concerns. The Public Health Nursing students include this information of these historical events and the present environmental surveillance in the community assessment. Lessons Learned: For many undergraduate PHN students, “historical” findings may only be those occurring in the last twenty years. It is important to raise awareness and guide students to ask the other questions in interviews and research the literature for important changes in the community over time. Recommendations: It is vital that present PHN students, nurses, and other health care providers be aware of past local historical significance and environmental events which may have physical and psychological impact on individuals, families, populations, and the communities in the impact area.