Thursday, August 23, 2007

What you can do to protect your family from lead

  • If you suspect that your house has lead hazards, you can take some immediate steps to reduce your family's risk:
    • If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
    • Clean up paint chips immediately.
    • Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead. REMEMBER: NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH PRODUCTS TOGETHER SINCE THEY CAN FORM A DANGEROUS GAS.
    • Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
    • Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bed time.
    • Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.
    • Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
    • Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
    • Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead.
  • In addition to day-to-day cleaning and good nutrition:
    • You can temporarily reduce lead hazards by taking actions such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover soil with high lead levels. These actions (called "interim controls") are not permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention.
    • To permanently remove lead hazards, you must hire a certified lead "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing, sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not enough.
    • Always hire a person with special training for correcting lead problems--someone who knows how to do this work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules.

Just so that you know Snowcem Paints is totally free from lead.

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