It is a busy season for painting and renovating homes. Maintaining your home’s paint to prevent deterioration such as chipping, flaking, peeling, or cracking will greatly reduce your child’s exposure to lead. Be sure to renovate, repair or paint the Lead Safe way. If you are working on your own home, you need to learn how to do this work safely or hire a certified Lead Renovator to do the work. Children can be lead poisoned from work done improperly.

 

Younger children are particularly at risk for lead exposure because of their developing bodies, growing independence and exploratory hand to mouth behavior. The consequences of lead poisoning can be very serious. A child can be lead poisoned and show no symptoms while irreversible damage is done to the body and brain.

 

Luckily, there is much you can do to protect your family. Keeping those window sills and wells clean is one way. Cleaning with a HEPA vacuum and wet mopping are others. All children should be in the habit of washing their hands and lead is another good reason to keep those hands clean. Lead can be in bare soil, especially near the drip line of an older home. Encourage your children to play in a sand box rather than bare soil. Thorough housekeeping, good hand washing habits and a nutritious diet rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C are important in protecting your child from lead poisoning. 

 

 

The Broome County Health Department has a program to assist you. If you live in zip code 13905, the Primary Prevention Program can provide to eligible property owners or tenants, lead inspections, lead safety information, lead training, use of a HEPA vacuum, painting supplies, and clearance testing. You can call 607.778.2847 to determine your eligibility. You can make your home lead safe.