What's Up Doc? Make your home healthy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked childhood lead poisoning, respiratory illnesses and other quality of life issues to the more than 6 million substandard housing units in the United States.

To address this issue, acting Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson has recently issued a call to promote healthier homes in the United States. There are many ways you can make your home safer and healthier for you and your family.

Clean, safe drinking water is a basic necessity. More than 40 million Americans, mostly in rural areas, get their drinking water from wells. In order to ensure this water is safe and healthy, wells must be tested regularly. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends well testing at least every spring, and more often if there are known ground water issues in your area (including flooding or land disturbances nearby) or if you notice a change in your water quality. Wells should be tested for nitrates, volatile organic compounds, pH, coliform bacteria and possibly other contaminants. Your local Board of Health can guide you to the recommendations for your town.

Clean, healthy air is, of course, another basic necessity. For children with asthma and/or allergies, minimizing dust, mold and other potential triggers in the home is one way to improve the safety of your household. In addition to regular house cleaning, parents should consult their pediatrician to discuss other things they can do to make the air inside their homes healthier for their children.

More than 4,000 Americans die and nearly 25,000 are injured in fires every year. Over 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in people's residences and most household fires start in the kitchen, so care should be taken to avoid kitchen accidents and mishaps. Furthermore, all homes should have working smoke detectors on all levels of the house which are checked monthly and have their batteries changed annually. In addition, have working and appropriate fire extinguishers placed in the kitchen, along fire escape routes and easily accessible from the bedrooms.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is another household safety concern. Having your furnace, chimney, gas appliances and fireplace maintained correctly can help minimize both household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Furthermore, carbon monoxide detectors should be installed to provide early warning to a potential problem from this odorless, tasteless, potential killer.

Children account for over 80 percent of the 5,000 drownings each year in the U.S., making it the second leading cause of death from injury for children under 14. Although drowning can occur in any water, the most common location of drowning for children under 4 is in or around the home.

Teaching kids proper water safety including never swimming alone or without attentive adult supervision, swimming close and in easy sight from the lifeguard station at the beach, utilizing Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFD) when boating and in other appropriate situations, as well as having childproof barriers around pools are all methods to minimize drowning risks.

Over 2 million poisonings are reported to local poison centers annually and over 30,000 of these are fatal. Ninety percent of poisonings occur in the home, most commonly from cleaning supplies, medications, cosmetics and other personal care items, and half of these occur in children under 6. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

UUse safety latches or locks on drawers and cabinets where dangerous items are stored, and keeping these out of sight of young children

UAlways replace childproof medicine container caps immediately, and store mediations in a safe place not accessible to children

UKeep the Poison Help Line phone number (800-222-1222) and your pediatrician's phone number handy

Elevated lead levels affect up to one in 40 children. A major risk factor for childhood lead poisoning is dust and paint chips from lead-based paint in the home. Lead was a common ingredient in paint prior to 1978, and the highest risk is in homes built prior to 1960. A professional with expertise in handling lead paint should be consulted for lead paint removal and renovations or repairs to homes with lead-based paint.

Finally, encouraging healthy habits, including regular exercise (always with appropriate safety equipment, including bicycle helmets), a good nutritious diet and proper eating habits, is one of the most important things a parent can do for their children, and would go a long way toward addressing the huge childhood obesity epidemic affecting almost 20 percent of U.S. children.

Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.P., F.A.A.E.P., can be reached at DrHersh@juno.com.