Do you have young children

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Do you have young children?
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Environmental Risks

• Children are most affected. They are at risk
  from environmental exposures like lead, second
  hand smoke, and pesticides.

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WHY?

• Their bodies are still developing.
• They breathe in more AIR and have a higher intake
  of LIQUIDS and FOODS than adults.

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More Info For You

• Children are more likely to crawl on the ground
  or floor and put their hands in their mouths.
• Children have a longer life span than adults.
  Lots of exposure now will affect their mental and
  physical development.

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What Can You Do?

• Learn as much as you can about environmental
  hazards and their effects on children.
• Inspect your home for environmental dangers and
  make it safe for your children.

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Was your home or apartment built before 1978?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child could be at risk of lead poisoning if
  there is a lead hazard in your home.

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WHY?

• Lead-based paint is the most common source of
  environmental exposure.
• Lead dust can get on a childs hands and into
  their mouths.

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More on Lead

• Lead has serious impacts on young children.
• Lead slows a childs brain development and causes
  learning and behavior problems.
• Lead dust from paint may settle on the ground
  where children play.

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What Can You Do?

• Make sure your paint is in good condition.
• Clean around window sills and doors with a damp
  cloth.
• Wash hands often.
• Run water for 30 seconds before drinking.
• Ask your Doctor / Health Professional to screen
  your childs blood for lead.

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What Can You Do To Protect Your Child?

• Do not use hot tap water when preparing formula
  or food for your baby or child.
• Wash toys, pacifiers, bottles, and nipples often.

• Have children eat foods that are low fat.
• Have children eat foods that are high in calcium
  and iron such as greens, milk, meats, cheese,
  fruits, and other vegetables.

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Are you remodeling a pre-1978 home?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child could be at risk of lead poisoning and
  asbestos exposure.

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WHY?

• Dust and disturbed paint may create a lead and/or
  asbestos hazard that is harmful to your child.

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What Can You Do?

• Find out if your home has lead-based paint and
  /or asbestos.
• If so, hire certified (lead/asbestos)
  professionals to treat the hazards.

• Call 1-800-424-LEAD for guidelines.
• Ask your Doctor or Health Professional
  to screen your child for lead
  exposure.

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Do you work or have hobbies involving lead, such
as soldering, making lead shot or fishing weights?
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Environmental Risks

• Your child could be at risk of lead poisoning.

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WHY?

• Lead may get on your clothes or hands and be
  easily passed onto your children.
• Children may breathe in lead if they are nearby
  these activities.

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What Can You Do?

• Wash your hands after you finish work.
• Change your clothes and shoes before you come
  home.
• Wash work clothes separately.
• Do not allow children near activities involving
  lead.

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Is your water safe?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child could be at risk of lead exposure.

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WHY?

• Water can be a risk because old pipes, solder,
  and fittings had lead in them.
• Lead is especially harmful to young children
  under six.

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What Can You Do?

• Run drinking water 30 seconds before use.
• Test your water to see if there are high amounts
  of lead.
• Have your child screened by your Doctor/Health
  Professional.

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Do you have mold or mildew in your home?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child is at risk of being exposed to
  allergens that may trigger asthma.

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WHY?

• Allergens may cause serious allergic reactions in
  children.
• The exposure may trigger asthma making it harder
  for child to breathe.

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What Can You Do?

• Reduce humidity by improving air flow in your
  home.
• Repair source of water leaks in the home.
• Clean areas with mold and mildew using bleach and
  water.
• Have your Doctor or Health Professional screen
  your child for asthma.

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Do you have pets?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child is at risk of being exposed to asthma
  triggers and pesticides.

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WHY?

• Pet fur and dander may trigger asthma.
• Also, your child may be exposed to pesticides
  from fleas sprays and dips.

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What Can You Do?

• Follow directions when using flea treatments.
• Keep pets off of furniture.
• Clean frequently to remove pet fur and dander.

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Does someone smoke in the home?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child is at risk of being exposed to asthma
  triggers, ear infections, other respiratory
  conditions, and cancer.

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WHY?

• Second hand smoke contains harmful substances
  given off by a lit cigarette, pipe, or cigar and
  smoke exhaled.
• Smoke remains for a long time and spreads
  throughout the home for hours.
• It may cause illnesses such as pneumonia,
  bronchitis, cancer, and trigger asthma attacks in
  children.

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What Can You Do?

• Smoke outside away from children.
• Dont let others smoke in your home.

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Does someone smoke in the car?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child is at risk of being exposed to asthma
  triggers.

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WHY?

• Second hand smoke affects the breathing of young
  children.
• The space inside cars is confined and the tobacco
  smoke trapped there can be very harmful to
  children.

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What Can You Do?

• Dont smoke.
• Dont smoke in the car.

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Do you use pesticides or other chemicals around
the home or yard?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child is at risk of being poisoned.

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WHY?

• Exposure to pesticides in kids may lead to brain
  and nerve damage and increase the risk of cancer.
  
• Many children are poisoned by drinking or
  touching pesticides or other chemicals.

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What Can You Do?

• Do not use farm pesticides in the home!
• Take away food, water, and a place for pests to
  live.
• Caulk cracks, bait, and trap pests.
• Check to see if your pest control company is
  licensed.
• Choose the correct pesticide for the problem.
• Dont use pesticides if you dont need to. Try
  alternative methods.

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More You Can Do!

• Store pesticides and other chemicals out of
  childrens reach in locked cabinets.
• Store pesticides and other chemicals in the
  original container.
• Follow instructions.
• Air out home after applying pesticides.
• Always have the poison control number by the
  phone. The number is (1-800) 282-5846.

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And even more that you can do

• Dont forget to wash fruits and vegetables under
  running water before eating.

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Do you use household chemicals?
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Environmental Risk

• Your child is at risk of being poisoned.

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WHY?

• When not stored properly, chemicals are easily
  accessed by children.
• Household chemicals can be fatal to young
  children.

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What Can You Do?

• Warn children of danger.
• Store all chemicals up and away from your childs
  reach.

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Have you tested your home for radon?
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Environmental Risk

• There is a risk of radon exposure for you and
  your child.

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WHY?

• Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas that seeps
  into a buildings foundation and also may enter
  your home as a gas through well water.
• Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

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What Can You Do?

• Test your home for radon with screening kits
  found at hardware stores.
• If levels are high call a local radon contractor.

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Do you use combustion appliances such as gas or
kerosene heaters?
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Environmental Risk

• There is a risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

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Why?

• Carbon monoxide poisoning kills many people every
  year.
• Carbon monoxide can result from non-electric
  heaters and furnaces in need of repair.
• Symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, and
  even death.

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What Can You Do?

• Choose vented (pipe to outdoors) heaters and
  appliances.
• Make sure vent is not blocked and without holes
  or cracks.
• Have home furnace checked every year.

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Do You Fish In Local Waters?
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Environmental Risk

• You and your child could be exposed to PCBs,
  mercury, and other hazardous chemicals.

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What Can You Do?

• Dont fish in contaminated waters.
• Dont eat fish in contaminated waters.
• Follow fish advisories for safe waters to fish.
• Call Department of Natural Resources (404)
  656-4713 or http//www.ganet.org/dnr/environ/