Lead-Free MV Coalition Recognizes June as National Healthy Homes Month
his month-long celebration offers an opportunity to learn more about housing and its impact on health.
HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) is sponsoring the second annual National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM) during June 2017. This month-long celebration offers an opportunity to learn more about housing and its impact on health, including the prevention of childhood lead poisoning, residential asthma intervention, radon safety and disaster recovery.
A healthy home is a critical component to preventing childhood lead poisoning. Children eat, drink and breath more frequently than adults and play close to the ground, meaning they are at a higher risk of lead toxicity during these developmental years. Lead can be found in contaminated soil or water; imported toys, pottery or cosmetics; and paint used before 1978.
The HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes recommends following these eight tips to keep homes safe:
1. Keep it dry
2. Keep it safe
3. Keep it clean
4. Keep it pest-free
5. Keep it contaminant-free
6. Keep it well maintained
7. Keep it well ventilated
8. Keep it at an adequate temperature
The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties launched the Lead-Free MV Coalition in 2016 to address children’s elevated blood lead levels in Herkimer and Oneida counties. The coalition is a collaborative effort of nearly 50 organizations and seeks to expand testing and increase awareness.