The Rental Property Owners Association (RPOA), in collaboration with the Healthy Homes Coalition and the City of Grand Rapids, is holding a special seminar entitled "Protect Your Rental Properties from Lead Based Paint Liabilities" April 22 at 6:00pm. The seminar will be held at DeVos Place (room Monroe B) in Grand Rapids.
The seminar is being held in response to the new federal Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule that will go into effect that day, as well as the recent Federal lawsuit against two Grand Rapids landlords for non-compliance with federal housing regulations.
Beginning April 2010, all renovators, remodelers and painters working in pre-1978 housing will be required to be an EPA-certified renovator trained in lead safe work practices. This requirement will apply to all renovation projects, not just lead abatement. Effected trades include remodelers, renovators, window replacement workers, painters, electricians, plumbers, and any other trades that disturb painted surfaces during the course of their work. Landlords who make repairs themselves will also be required to have this certification.
The Healthy Homes Coalition was recently awarded $26,248 in FEMA funding to make sure families with children have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in their homes. This award will allow Healthy Homes to serve 400 families!
The Healthy Homes Coalition is once again commencing radon testing services for the 2009-2010 season. Test kits can be purchased at Healthy Homes for $5.00, or can be provided free of charge as part of the Healthy Homes CLEARCorps program.
Cold Weather = Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Cold Weather Brings Increased Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
GRAND RAPIDS - The recent cold front brings with it the increased danger of carbon monoxide poisoning as people start up their furnaces and seek ways to stay warm. Malfunctioning furnaces are the leading cause of non-fire related carbon monoxide exposure according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control. Winter and fall are the seasons when most carbon monoxide poisonings happen.
"Now is the time to make sure that your furnace gets its annual inspection and to make sure that your family is protected with a carbon monoxide detector," said Paul Haan, Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is the byproduct of incomplete combustion. It is the leading cause of unintentional death by poisoning in the United States. 450 Americans are killed by carbon monoxide each year, and more than 15,000 others are rushed to the emergency department with severe symptoms.
The Healthy Homes Coalition recommends regular preventive inspections of furnaces and other gas burning appliances to ensure they are working correctly. Healthy Homes also recommends that each home have at least one working carbon monoxide detector, and that the detector be installed in the hallway outside of the family's sleeping quarters.
Generators and automobiles are also common sources of carbon monoxide poisoning in west Michigan. Healthy Homes advises never warming up a car while it is parked inside the garage, even if the garage door is left open. Generators should never be used inside enclosed spaces like basements or garages.
To help keep families safe, the Healthy Homes Coalition was recently awarded a $26,284 FEMA grant to install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for low-income families with children. Eligible families must reside in the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood or Wyoming, must have a full-time resident child 5 years of age or younger, and must be low-income. To request an alarm, call (616) 241-3300.
For more information, visit www.healthyhomescoalition.org/carbon-monoxide.
Click here for a PDF of this release.
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!
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Special thanks to the Dyer-Ives Foundation for their generous support of this website. © 2006-2010 Healthy Homes Coalition.
