Printed copies are available at any OCHD office while supplies last.

Otero County Vital Records

Vital Records issues birth and death certificates as mandated by Colorado State law.  The office also compiles data pertinent to birth and death statistics for submission to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Certificates are available at the La Junta office at 13 W. 3rd Street, Room 111, La Junta, CO, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

A valid driver's license is required to receive birth or death certificates.  If you do not have a valid driver's license, please refer to the Approved Identity Verification Documents Listing.

 Birth Certificates

Otero County Public Health Vital Records Department is able to issue birth certificates for any birth occurring in the State of Colorado from 1903 to present.  

Birth Certificate: $17.75

Each additional certificate of the same record ordered at the same time: $10.00

Payment may be made by cash, check, or money order.  Credit cards are not accepted.

Birth Certificate Application Form (pdf)

Death Certificates

Death certificates are only issued for deaths occurring in Otero County.

Death Certificate: $17.00

Each additional certificate of the same record ordered at the same time: $10.00

Payment may be made by cash, check, or money order.  Credit cards are not accepted.

Death Certificate Application Form (pdf)

Lead Paint

   Learning disabilities, hearing loss, and violent behavior are some of the effects lead paint can have on young children.  If your home was built before 1978, lead paint on your walls, doors, windows and sills may still be dangerous.

   Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.  To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning.

   A rule that increased protections against lead-paint poisoning by eliminating the ability of owner-occupants of older housing to "opt-out" of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices took effect July 6, 2010.

EPA rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices (April 22, 2008)

EPA final rule to apply lead-safe work practices (PDF) (July 6, 2010)

Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (11 pp, 1.1MB) | en español (PDF) (20 pp, 3.2MB)

Colorado Department of Health and Environment Lead Services Directory 2010

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/lead/

Radon Information and Resources

Resources:

Radon Test Kit Ordering Information and Coupon

A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon

Manual Informativo Sobre El Radón, La Guía para proteger a su familia y a usted del radon

 Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction : How to Fix Your Home

Information:

If you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, it can’t hurt you, right?  Wrong!  The second leading cause of lung cancer is radon, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates and is responsible for about 21,000 deaths each year. Your risk of lung cancer is especially high if you smoke and your home is high in radon levels. Children are more sensitive to radon because their lungs are smaller and their respiratory rates are twice as high. Doctors say that, by the age of 10, a child receives twice the lung dose of an adult who’s been exposed to radon for the same length of time.

Radon is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and groundwater. So, how then do you get exposed to radon gas? You may get exposed at home or at work because radon is sometimes found in those places. For most Americans, their greatest exposure to radon is in their homes, especially in rooms that are below grade (e.g., basements), rooms that are in contact with the ground and those rooms immediately above them.

Radon may also be in the water you drink, but, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, because only a small portion of the radon gas found in a home comes from the water supply, it is not necessary to test your water unless other remedies fail to reduce radon levels in the air.  If you have not found radon in the air in your home, you do not need to be concerned about it being in your water.

Southeast Colorado has high radon potential. Since radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, you can’t tell if it is in your home unless you test for it. Do-it-yourself test kits are often available at hardware or home improvement stores. If, however, you are unable to find a test kit to purchase locally, you can access a coupon for one at a reduced cost at http://sosradon.org/test-kits or you can get the coupon at any Otero County Health Department office. Since radon levels in a building can vary over time, EPA recommends testing every two years.

If testing shows your home has an elevated level of radon, EPA recommends that you have a qualified radon mitigation contractor fix your home because lowering high radon levels requires specific technical knowledge and special skills. Without the proper equipment or technical knowledge, you could actually increase your radon level or create other potential hazards and additional costs. If, however, you decide to do the work yourself, get information on appropriate training courses and copies of EPA's technical guidance documents at www.epa.gov/radon/pubs. A booklet is also available on that website on how to select a qualified contractor to reduce the radon levels in your home, determine an appropriate radon reduction method, and maintain your radon reduction system.

Indoor Air Quality publications can be ordered from:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, OH 45242-0419
Web site: www.epa.gov/nscep
Phone:  1-800-490-9198
Fax:  (301) 604-3408
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

For more information on radon contact the health department at 719-383-3040.