University of Wisconsin - Extension

Did you know that the air inside your home is often more polluted than the air outside? Most of us spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors. That means our families face serious health risks in the place we usually think of as safest. But how does someone know what poses a potential health risk around the home and what does not?

There's a simple first step to finding out. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension has just published a Spanish language version of the new edition of Help Yourself to a Healthy Home: Protect Your Children's Health, a booklet that helps people identify and address potential health threats at home. The publication is a product of a joint Department of Housing and Urban Development and Cooperative State Education and Extension Service initiative called the Healthy Homes Partnership.

According to Healthy Homes Partnership Program Manager Sarah Van Tiem, many people are unaware of the everyday dangers children may face around the house or apartment. "However, seemingly innocent things like the air you breathe or the products you use to clean your bathroom can pose a threat to your family's health."

For example, many homes all over the United States have high levels of radon. This colorless, odorless, radioactive gas causes many thousands of deaths each year, according to the National Safety Council. That's because when people breathe air that contains radon, they can get lung cancer. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country. For smokers who live in homes with high radon levels, the risk of lung cancer is especially high. However, people can protect themselves from radon by using a simple test to determine whether radon is a problem in their home. Even homes with very high levels of radon can be made safe again.

"The new booklet is a great place to start for people who have concerns about health risks around the home," says Van Tiem. "Not only does it give tips for how to make homes safer and healthier, the booklet also lets people know where to go for more in-depth information."

"We're really pleased to offer the booklet in Spanish, because it can be a challenge to find Spanish-language health publications," she adds.

The new booklet covers nine topics: mold, carbon monoxide, asthma and allergies, lead poisoning, drinking water, pesticide use, indoor air quality, hazardous household products and home safety.

The Healthy Home Partnership has also made Help Yourself to a Healthy Home: Protect Your Children's Health available at no cost. To order your copy of the publication in English or Spanish, please call (608) 262-0024 or write homeasys@uwex.edu"> homeasys@uwex.edu.

The Healthy Home Partnership is an education initiative sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the USDA's Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service (CSREES). The Healthy Home Partnership is supported by a national network of Healthy Home coordinators. For more information, contact Sarah Van Tiem, 608-265-2774 or visit the web site at http://www.uwex.edu/healthyhome .