Page 40 - July 2024 Issue

Children: Running Better Unleaded

Caroline County Health Older homes build before 1978 may a habit of checking recall lists and
Department Childhood Lead contain lead paint. Over time this go through your cabinets looking
Prevention Program Casey Sonzone paint can chip, ake and its dust can for items found on recall lists. is
BSN, RN be ingested. Lead paint should either includes fruit pouches, spices and
be removed or sealed and painted baby products. Toys and other items
Children run better unleaded! I’m not over by a certi ed contractor. If used for children may be recalled
talking about gasoline! Children are lead paint is found in your home it for containing lead as well. e FDA
negatively a ected by lead that can be is important to keep children away and U.S. Consumer Product Safety
found in their environment and foods from those areas, prevent picking Commission websites are great
they eat. Lead is a silent danger. or chewing and damp mop o en to resources to stay up to date on recalls.
remove any dust. Older pipes may
Symptoms of lead poisoning in contain lead fragments, be sure to Does my child have lead poisoning?
children range from loss of appetite, run the faucet water before using it A simple blood test ordered by their
irritability, fatigue, hearing loss, for cooking and drinking. Look at the pediatrician can determine this.
slowed growth and behavioral and toys and items your child plays with Results are returned within days.
learning problems. At high levels or comes into frequent contact with. Children should be tested at 12 and
lead poisoning can cause permanent ese items may contain lead that 24 months old, and anytime lead
intellectual disability, coma, and could transfer to children’s hands and exposure is suspected. Children new
death. e good news is that lead mouths. to the U.S. and children adopted from
poisoning is 100% preventable. It other countries should also be tested
just requires a little more attention to Foods and spices used in your home for lead exposure because countries
detail. may also contain lead that over time have di erent safety protocols and
can build up in a child’s body. Make requirements.
Is there lead in my home? Surfaces
KEEP THE BEAT and samples from around your home
can be tested for lead in various ways.
e most accurate way is to have
a licensed inspector come to your
CPR & First Aid Training home to complete an assessment and
collect samples. ere are home kits
Training for: • Boat Captains that can be purchased at hardware
• Healthcare • Coaches... stores; however, these can be much
• Daycare we do them all! less accurate.
CPR and First Aid
valid for 2 years Treatment for children a ected by
410-758-2022 Quality, fun lead varies based on their blood lead
WE ARE AHA INSTRUCTORS 147 Log Canoe Cir. & a ordable level. Lower levels of lead can be
For upcoming classes: Stevensville, MD 21666 training! treated just by removing the source
www.ktbtraining.net of exposure, routine handwashing
before meals, and damp moping
surfaces. Severely elevated levels may
EXAMS & CERTIFICATES require medical intervention that
• Truck/Bus Drivers would be organized by your child’s
• Basic Med for Pilots doctor.
• Coast Guard for Boaters Childhood lead poisoning is 100%
• Pre-Op for Upcoming Surgery preventable. Common sources of
lead poisoning are well known.
Board Certied Testing your child is quick, easy, and
Occupational Medicine reliable. And treatment can be very
simple when started early. Remember,
C.E. Jensen, MD children run better unleaded!
Denton, MD 410-924-8560

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