Most people spend 90% of their time indoors; therefore the home should be a safe and healthy refuge for the entire family. However there are several potential hazards:
- Lead
- Allergens/asthma triggers
- Combustion products
- Moisture/mold
- Poisons
- Insects, rodents, and pesticides
- Radon
- Unintentional injury risks
You cannot see or smell all of the dangers that may be making your home unhealthy. Did you know that your chances of getting hurt at home are much greater than at work or school? Children are especially at risk because:
- Their bodies are still growing so their organs are more likely to be harmed. Their immune systems are still developing.
- For their size, children eat more food, drink more water and breathe more air than adults, so they can get a bigger dose of a harmful substance when exposed to the same amount as an adult.
- Children play and crawl on the ground. This puts them closer to things like dust and chemicals which might cause health problems. They also learn about their work by putting everything in their mouths – some of which may have hazardous materials or dust on them.
The good news is that there are some very simple solutions for minimizing home hazards and keeping your indoor air quality healthy and safe to breathe.
- Keep your home dry – repair leaks, keep the house well ventilated, keep surfaces clean and dry, throw away/replace items that have been wet for more than 2 days
- Keep your home clean – dust can trigger allergies and asthma, garbage attracts rodents and insects
- Minimize clutter – clear pathways and good lighting help prevent falls
- Don’t store combustible products indoors – keep them away from heat, sparks, and fire
- Keep all cleaning products, medicines, pesticides and other hazardous materials like matches out of the reach of children
- Don’t smoke indoors
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Test for hazards such as lead and radon and follow the advice of a professional in fixing identified hazards
- Keep emergency numbers such as poison control next to your phone 1-800-222-1222
The Allen County Lead & Healthy Homes Program (formerly the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPP) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and state and local government and health department authorities to increase healthy homes in our community. Local efforts include education, advocacy and outreach; the identification and elimination of environmental hazards; and identification of and case management for lead poisoned children.
We encourage everyone to take the lead and healthy homes risk assessment questionnaires to determine if you have home hazards that need to be addressed. If you need help please call our Hotline at 449-8600.