Get Smart About Lead Hazards

Brought to you by the National PTA®.

Make a lifelong commitment to improving the health of your family by starting to make a difference around your home. If you suspect that your home has lead-based hazards, take these simple steps to help protect your family.

• Get your home tested for lead hazards, especially if it was built before 1978.

• Get your children tested if you think they have been exposed to lead.

• Keep paint intact and in good condition. Clean up any paint chips or paint debris around your house using a wet sponge or rag.

• Keep dust levels down by cleaning regularly with an all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead.

• Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat, to remove any lead that may cling to their hands.

• Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly to rid them of lead dust.

• Keep children from chewing on painted surfaces, as these surfaces may contain lead-based paint.

• Make sure your children eat a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and high in calcium and iron. Children with good diets absorb less lead.

• Take precautions before renovating or remodeling a home built before 1978. Contact your local EPA for guidelines.

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