It's Lead Poisoning Prevention Week October 19-25
It’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Week - lead affects humans and wildlife, children and adults, with children being the most susceptible to harm from lead. California Poison Control System warns parents that lead can be found in a variety of products.
Here are 10 lead poisoning prevention tips:
- Make sure your children do not put their mouths on painted surfaces, such as toys or window sills.
- Report chipped or cracked paint to your property owner, especially if you live in a home built before 1978.
- Cover paint that is peeling or chipping with duct tape until it can be repaired or removed.
- Ask your doctor about screening your young children for lead. Children may have lead poisoning even when they are appear healthy.
- Necklaces and bracelets, watches, as well as religious jewelry from other countries have been found to contain lead.
- Keys may have small amounts of lead in them – do not let babies play with or teethe on a keychain.
- Local water supplies are testes regularly for contaminants, including lead. Occasionally older pipes in your home may gradually leech lead into your tap water. If you are concerned about your tap water, run the faucet for a few minutes before using cold water for cooking, drinking or preparing infant formula (this can help flush out the lead which can build up in sitting water), especially if the cold water hasn't been used in the past two hours.
- Avoid eating foods that are canned outside the United States.
- Be aware that lead has been found in some candy and its packaging imported from Mexico and neighboring countries. Spices from these countries, especially chili or tamarind, may contain high amounts of lead.
- Folk medicines (especially home remedies) imported from another country may also contain lead. These include: pay-loo-ah (fever and rash treatment); Azarcon (also called Maria Luisa, Liga, Alarzon, Greta, Coral and Rueda); Asian folk remedies and cosmetics, including Ghasard, Bali Goli, andKandu; and Middle Eastern cosmetics and folk remedies, including kohl, farouk and bint al zahab.
Call California Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222 for more information on lead poisoning. Trained certified pharmacists, nurses and poison information providers to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free, confidential and interpreters are always available. Follow CPCS on Facebook and on Twitter @poisoninfo. For more free poison and safety tips, text the word TIPS or PUNTOS for Spanish to 69866.
Media Contact:
Susan Tellem, APR, RN, BSN
310-313-3444 x1
Note To Media: Flyers in English and Spanish are available, as well as PSAs in English and Spanish on http://bit.ly/aIiMm8
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