|
 |
How
Healthy is Your Home?
Asthma attacks can be triggered by allergens in the home, including mild,
dust mites rodents, excess dust and second hand smoke.
What can be done to help?
To
achieve good indoor air quality:
 |
Maintain a well ventilated home |
|
|
Wash curtains that can collect dust and allergens in hot water |
|
|
Use dust mite mattress and pillow covers. Wash bedding in hot water
every week to kill dust mites. |
|
|
Eliminate pests using gel bait. |
|
|
Seal cracks |
|
|
Eliminate sources of food and water, lying around home. |
|
|
Thoroughly clean the home to eliminate roach and mice debris. |
|
|
Use pesticides according to their labels. |
|
|
Be sure not to vent dryers and exhaust fans into crawl spaces or attics. |
|
|
Immediately fix plumbing leaks and leaks that allow rainwater into the
home. |
|
|
Replace materials when surfaces have been wet for more that 48 hours. |
|
|
Remove stored materials such as cardboard boxes in damp basements. |
|
|
Insulate cold water pipes that can cause condensation and excess
moisture. |
|
|
Routinely check and clean gutters so run off is diverted from the
foundation. |
|
|
Service gas and oil appliances regularly. |
|
|
Store solvent chemicals away from the home and properly dispose those
you don’t need. When using use fans or open windows to allow fresh air
to enter area. |
|
|
Open windows if possible for a few days after installing carpet. |
|
|
Let dry cleaned clothes air without the plastic to rid of unwanted
chemical odors before placing in clothes closet. |
|
|
Avoid smoking in your home or car and never around children. |
Lead Hazards
In many homes built
before 1978, deteriorating paint causes lead hazards in dust and soil. Young
children, especially under the age of 3, should be tested for lead poisoning
if any possibility of exposure to lead. Pregnant women need to be aware of
the danger of lead to any unborn baby. Serious health effects are possible
with lead poisoning even at lower concentration levels.
|
|
Repair peeling and
deteriorating paint. |
|
|
Use lead safe work
practices when disturbing paint that may contain lead. USE LICENSED LEAD
CONTRACTORS. |
|
|
Keep children and
pregnant or breastfeeding women and others NOT working on the jobs away
from renovation or remodeling areas, to avoid exposure to high levels of
lead just while repairs are underway. |
|
|
Reduce high lead
risks by teaching children to wash hands frequently. |
|
|
Clean hard surfaces
in your home with a wet mop or rag using a high phosphate detergent. |
|
|
Vacuum using a HEPA
vacuum cleaner when sweeping. Household vacuums may scatter the lead
contaminated dust. |
Home Safety
|
|
Install and routinely test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. |
|
|
Never use the kitchen stove or oven to heat your home. |
|
|
Always turn on the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking. |
|
|
Pick up hazards, such as toys or shoes, to prevent falls. |
|
|
Repair cracked or work stairs. Use non skid mats in slippery areas. |
|
|
Keep firearms in locked cabinets, use trigger locks. |
|
|
Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to prevent
scalding. |
Poison Proof Your Home
|
|
Install safety latches on all cabinets and drawers that contain harmful
products. |
|
|
Keep medicines in a locked cabinet out of children's reach. |
|
|
Properly dispose of all expired and unused medicines, when no longer
needed. It is recommended by the Board of Pharmacy and Pharmacist
Association to use coffee grounds or kitty litter and throw the
medicines away in these products. |
Take
a walk around the inside and outside of your home, looking for potential
hazards. Service those areas that need taken care of, so you can have a
healthy home. |
