As we wrap up National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, it’s incredibly important to understand that our homes can affect our health and safety. Particularly in older communities like ours, we find that building components contain toxic materials like lead. To finish off our highlights on lead poisoning prevention, we are sharing best practices on how to keep your family safe:
- Get your child test for lead! Start at nine months with their doctor, then retest each year until age six.
- Wash children’s hands, toys, bottles, and pacifiers often.
- Include a diet for your family rich in calcium and iron while avoiding fatty and sugary foods.
- Wet clean weekly by mopping floors, and spraying/wiping window sills, window wells, and baseboards.
- Do not let children play in bare dirt, near windows, or on porches with old paint.
- Take your shoes off at the door to prevent tracking lead dust in from outside.
- Only use cold tap water to cook or to make baby formula. Flush your pipes in the morning before you drink the water. Water standing in pipes for several hours can contain lead.
- When repairing or remodeling your home, do not let children near work areas. Clean thoroughly and work lead safe!
- Make sure that anyone who works in construction or auto repair changes their clothes and showers before greeting or holding children. Separate dirty work clothes from other laundry.
For more information, go to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention page from the CDC or refer to our Lead Poisoning 101 Book!
