"A ten-month old baby is at the DeVos Children’s Hospital after a severe case of lead poisoning that was discovered last week in Grand Rapids, " according to FOX-17 reporter Carl Apple. The Healthy Homes Coalition worked with Carl to get this story out, hoping to alert the community to the fact that lead poisoning is still a very real and present danger in Grand Rapids.
The CareSource Foundation recently awarded $7,500 to the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan to underwrite the cost of teaching parents how to check their homes for lead hazards. It is anticipated that more than 100 families will be able to benefit from this service.
Healthy Homes is working with homeowners to test more than 100 homes for radon during the national Radon Action Month. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. Its presence in homes can easily be detected through a simple test kit.
100+ Homes Tested for Radon
Healthy Homes is working with homeowners to test more than 100 homes for radon during the national Radon Action Month. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. Its presence in homes can easily be detected through a simple test kit.
"Testing homes for radon is simple to do. Testing helps families take the first step in protecting themselves from lung cancer," said Paul Haan, Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that people cannot see, smell, or taste but could be present at a dangerous level in west Michigan homes. As the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. and the first leading cause among non-smokers, radon claims more than 20,000 lives annually. About 15% of home radon tests—one in seven—conducted in Kent County come back elevated according to the Healthy Homes Coalition.
If a family detects a high level of radon in the home, steps can be taken to protect the family. Haan said, "Most homebuyers today conduct a radon test when they buy a home. Current homeowners should test their homes now so that they can benefit from protection too, rather than just having to pay for the repairs when they sell the home."
The Healthy Homes Coalition has offered free test kits through their social networks. They will also be offering free test kits to child care providers at the Kent Regional 4-C annual conference this Saturday. To celebrate their success of testing 100 homes, the Healthy Homes Coalition will continue to offer free radon test kits through Friday, February 4. After February 4, kits will be sold for $5.00 each. The Healthy Homes Coalition is located at 742 Franklin SE in Grand Rapids.
For more information, call (616) 241-3300 or visit www.HealthyHomesCoalition.org/radon.
Making sure children grow up in homes that are healthy and safe is everyone’s job! The Healthy Homes Coalition is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more about specific ways you can help protect children. Connect with us today!
742 Franklin St. SE // Grand Rapids, MI 49507 // 616.241.3300 p // 616.241.3327 f // info@healthyhomescoalition.org
Special thanks to the Dyer-Ives Foundation for their generous support of this website. © 2006-2012 Healthy Homes Coalition.
