Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 21 and LEAD LEAD- SAFE For more information, please visit vdh.virginia.gov/leadsafe. Here are some household habits that can reduce your family's lead exposure this winter: KNOW THE BIGGEST HAZARDS The risk of exposure to lead-based paint is greatest in areas of high friction. Doorways, windowsills and any surfaces where paint is peeling and deteriorating are prime candidates for creating lead dust. Regularly cleaning around these areas (using the lead-safe practices described below) can help. Routine maintenance can help keep dust at bay, but if you plan to upgrade or renovate your home, be sure to either hire a lead-safe certified contractor, or follow the EPA's lead-safe renovation guidelines for DIYers, which can be found at epa.gov/ lead/lead-safe-renovations-diyers CHECK YOUR VACUUM Without the right filtration, vacuuming can actually spread fine-particulate lead dust around your home. Make sure your vacuum is contributing to cleaner air in your house by selecting a cleaner with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Vacuums with HEPA filters can be found anywhere vacuums are sold—you just need to make sure the package features the HEPA acronym when describing the filtration system. KEEP HANDS AND FACES CLEAN Children ages 6 and younger are at the highest risk of lead poisoning in part because they are so prone to crawling on the floor, picking up lead dust and then ingesting it by putting their hands in their mouths. For this reason, Janine Kerr, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Health Educator with the Virginia Department of Health, recommends washing children's hands and faces regularly, especially before they go to bed at night. "Making sure that they are washing their hands and face before going to sleep reduces the risk of exposure overnight if they were to suck their thumb or put their hands in their mouth," she says. WASH ITEMS OFTEN Toys, pacifiers, bottles and any other toy or item likely to go in a child's mouth should be washed often with soap and water. These items can pick up lead dust when left on the floor, so keep an eye on them. CLEAN WITH THE WET METHOD When wiping down surfaces in your home, Kerr recommends a specific method to help prevent lead dust from being kicked up into the air. Start by filling a spray bottle with soap and water. Spray down the surface you are about to clean. Then, using a dispos- able rag or towel, wipe the surface, moving in one direction to avoid dragging any lead dust back into the area you just cleaned. Then, use a new rag or cloth dampened with water to wipe away any additional dirt or grime. "It's really important to not reuse cloths or rags, because that can contaminate the area that you just cleaned," Kerr says. USE THREE BUCKETS FOR MOPPING FLOORS Avoid cross-contaminating your floors by mopping with three buckets. Fill one with soapy water, one with clean water, and leave the last one empty. When mopping, clean your floor one section at a time. For each section, first dip your mop into the soapy water, clean the section, rinse the mop in the clean water and then wring it thoroughly into the empty bucket. Taking the extra time to rinse your mop in clean water can make a huge difference, since you won't be putting dirty water back on your floors as you go from section to section. BRAVE THE COLD Taking the time to bundle up and enjoy a walk or visit to a playground exposes your children to fresh air, and reduces their time around indoor lead hazards. Try to get some outside time in every day if you can. THINK ABOUT WHAT'S COMING IN In addition to paint in homes, lead exposure can come from adults who may bring it into the house after certain activities, such as spending time at a firing range, battery manufacturing or recycling facility, mechanic shop or similar hobby or occupation. When coming home from activi- ties like these, adults should remove their shoes before coming into the house to avoid tracking lead dust in. Once inside, change clothes and take a shower before interacting with children to avoid exposing them to any lead you may have picked up. ENJOY EXTRA C Nutrition can be a defense against lead poisoning—especially foods rich in Vitamin C. Consider adding some delicious winter citrus to your grocery cart and brightening those cold days with a fruit salad or fresh-squeezed orange juice. As the weather gets colder, your immune system will also appreciate the extra C.

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