Your children are at a greater risk of exposure to environmental hazards than you.  These hazards exist where they live, learn and play.  Children engage in “riskier behaviors” than most adults.  Two big “environmental risky behaviors” children engage in are:

  • Crawling across floors that can have a number of different contaminants on them
  • Putting toys and other things in their mouths, exposing themselves to lead paint, plastics, chemicals, etc.

It is important for all of us to do what we can to keep our children safe.  Here are five steps you can take to make your home safer for your children (and you).

(1.)   Keep potentially harmful chemicals out of your home. Don’t buy or store hazardous household chemicals.  When selecting a product, look for “caution words” like POISON (highly toxic) and DANGER (extremely flammable, corrosive or highly toxic).

Mr Yuk

(2.)   Choose to use safer cleaning products or make your own green cleaners.  Watch this short video on how you can live greener.

(3.)   Remove your shoes and add a doormat. This will leave lead dust, pollen, pesticides, and other contaminants at the door. Learn more from the UGA Extension Leave it at the Door publication.

Shoe tray

(4.)   Repair leaking pipes and keep indoor humidity below 60% to reduce risk of mold growth. Mold is one of several asthma triggers. Take Action to Prevent Mold.

(5.)   Test your home for radon. It’s inexpensive and easy to do.  In Georgia go to www.ugaradon.org. Outside Georgia go to https://www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html. This short video will show you how to use a radon test kit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvqzoqocTXQ

Learn more about protecting your children from environmental risks @ https://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm

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