Some of the most serious health problems for children, such as asthma, lead poisoning, and unintentional injuries start at home.
"Healthy Homes" is a century-old concept that promotes safe, decent, and sanitary housing as a means for preventing disease and injury.
Follow the Seven Healthy Homes Principles:
1. Keep your home Dry
Damp houses provide a nurturing environment for mites, roaches, rodents, and molds, all of which are associated with asthma.
2. Keep your home Clean
Clean homes help reduce pest infestations and exposure to contaminants.
3. Keep your home Pest-Free
Recent studies show a causal relationship between exposure to mice and cockroaches and asthma episodes in children; however, inappropriate treatment for pest infestations can exacerbate health problems, since pesticide residues in homes pose risks for neurological damage and cancer.
4. Keep your home Safe
The majority of injuries among children occur in the home. Falls are the most frequent cause of residential injuries to children, followed by injuries from objects in the home, burns, and poisonings.
5. Keep your home Contaminant-Free
Chemical exposures include lead, radon, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and environmental tobacco smoke. Exposures to asbestos particles, radon gas, carbon monoxide, and second-hand tobacco smoke are far higher indoors than outside.
6. Keep your home Ventilated
Studies show that increasing the fresh air supply in a home improves respiratory health.
7. Keep your home Maintained
Poorly maintained homes are at risk for moisture and pest problems. Deteriorated lead-based paint in older housing is the primary cause of lead poisoning, which affects some 240,000 U.S. children.