Nearly a quarter of a million children living in the United States have blood lead levels high enough to cause significant damage to their health, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based on a 2003–2004 national survey. Major sources of lead exposure among U.S. children include lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings. The good news is lead poisoning is entirely preventable.

To increase the awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention, the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD), the CDC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, are participating in “National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week” (NLPPW) from October 23–29^th, 2011.   This year’s NLPPW theme is “Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,” and it underscores the importance of testing your home for lead, testing your child for lead, and learning how to prevent lead poisoning.

In observance of in National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, several Onondaga County organizations have events planned:

      Housing Vendor Fair

·         The OCHD Lead Program is collaborating with Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today (TNT) and the Gifford Foundation to offer a Safe and Healthy Housing Vendor Fair during the Syracuse Neighborhood Action Conference being held at LeMoyne College on Saturday, October 22, 2011. For more information on the conference, please call (315) 448-8100 or (315) 474-2489.

·         Is your home haunted…..by lead paint? Grants are available for residents of Syracuse and Onondaga County for home repairs. To learn more about these grant opportunities, visit us at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Boo on Saturday, October 22, 2011 and Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., or call (315) 435-3271 for more information.

·         Leo the Lead Lion will be visiting a location near you to teach ways to prevent lead poisoning! Watch for Leo on Wednesday, October 26th at  Nojaim Brothers Supermarket, 307Gifford Street, Syracuse, NY from 11 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Parents reduce your child’s exposure to lead by following these simple steps:

·         Call the OCHD Lead Program to see if you qualify for a free home lead inspection.

·         Before you buy an older home, ask for a lead inspection.

·         Get your child tested for lead. Have your child tested at age one and again at age two by your child’s health care provider. Even if your young children seem healthy, ask your health care provider to test them for lead.

·         Get the facts!The OCHD Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program can provide you with information about preventing childhood lead poisoning.

For more information, contact the Onondaga County Health Department Lead Program at (315) 435-3271or visit www.ongov.net/health/lead or www.cdc.gov … Working together to prevent childhood lead poisoning.