Page 7 - Healthy Kids Now - Winter 2021/2022

Why lead poisoning
is dangerous, and how
to prevent it
According to Erin Nozetz, M.D., a pediatrician and the associate medical director of the lead toxicity clinic at Yale New Haven Hospital, lead poisoning occurs when kids
are exposed to this heavy metal through dust from peeling or chipped lead paint.
Lead paint was banned from homes in the United States in 1978, but many older homes still contain lead-based paint, causing many children to be exposed if the paint is chipping or peeling. If lead paint is not intact,
it can create a dust that can be infectious.
Children may also be exposed to lead poisoning from their parents who work in lead-based industries, like bullet manufacturing and construction. Parents with these jobs are at risk for bringing lead home on their clothes and shoes.
Take advantage of these value-added benefits
Visit Winterfest at the Delaware River Waterfront for winter
family fun.Winterfest is filled
with favorite winter traditions,
like skating under the stars and sipping hot chocolate in the Lodge. Visitors can also enjoy arcade games, storytelling adventures, late-night dancing, and more at this local winter wonderland.
Keystone HMO CHIP members have access to this and other innovative programs and services. Be sure to take advantage of these value-added programs!
• Blue365®:Ahealthand wellness program that offers discounts on all kinds of purchases — from over-the- counter medications to sneakers.
• BlueInsiderSM:Receive exclusive deals and discounts from several businesses, events, and attractions.
• IBX Good Living: Get coupons for healthy food and personal care products, recipes, and health articles.
• IndependenceBlueCross (IBX) Member Website: Visit www.ibx.com to register and take advantage of the resources available to you, like organizing your claims, finding a doctor, accessing your benefit information, and ordering or printing a new ID card.
For more information on these value-added programs included
in your child’s plan, you may
call our Keystone HMO CHIP Member Help Team at 1-800- 464-5437 (TTY: 711). We are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If your home was built before 1978 or you have lead pipes or lead paint in your house, get in touch with your local health department to be connected
to a certified lead inspector, and talk with your child’s pediatrician. When possible, keep your children away from areas of peeling paint and regularly wipe down floors and surfaces with
a wet cloth. Parents should also avoid having children play with older toys.
Lead poisoning can go unnoticed for a long time, even at high levels, because it often doesn’t cause any symptoms.That’s why it’s important to be proactive about preventing lead exposure and to have your child’s blood tested for lead by 12 months of age, and again at 24 months of age.
Be sure to schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor for a blood lead test. If you don’t have a primary care provider for your child or want to find a new one, log in at www.ibx.com.
7