HEALTHY AT HOME – The What, The why and the how
Simple steps to keeping your home, and everyone in it, healthy and safe.
Simple steps to keeping your home, and everyone in it, healthy and safe.
The condition of your home and any hazards within it can affect your health and safety. A healthy home helps prevent disease and injury. Here is an expanded list of steps you can take to keep your home healthy.
KEEP YOUR HOME WELL VENTILATED
Improve air quality and reduce pollutants by bringing fresh air into your home and keeping air flowing. Open windows and doors when the weather is good, run bathroom fans while showering, and use kitchen fans while cooking.
KEEP YOUR HOME DRY
Moisture in your home can cause mold to grow and attract pests. Check regularly for water leaks and fix them right away – and clean up any water spills quickly.
KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN
Be sure to clean up dust and dirt, which can trigger asthma and even hide invisible lead dust. Pick up clutter, which is a tripping hazard and a hiding place for pests. Use a vacuum with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter and wet-mop regularly.
KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE
Always make sure poisons are properly labeled and out of children’s reach. Assess your home for surfaces or objects that could cause injuries, especially to children. Make sure smoke alarms are working properly and that your drinking water is free of contaminants.
KEEP YOUR HOME WELL MAINTAINED
Regularly inspect your home to make sure it is physically and structurally sound. Keep up with minor repairs to stop small problems from becoming big ones—such as shaky handrails, holes and cracks, and water leaks. Follow Vermont laws on lead and asbestos when renovating your home.
KEEP YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
To help the environment – and save money – make your home energy efficient, choose non-toxic cleaning products, and use non-toxic building materials. These products and materials also help make your home safer.
KEEP YOUR HOME PEST FREE
Pests can cause disease and trigger asthma. Keep these unwanted guests away by keeping your home clean, storing food properly, closing trash containers, and sealing holes and cracks. But be sure to avoid using dangerous chemicals and pesticides to remove pests.
KEEP YOUR HOME FREE OF TOXINS
Follow practices to keep your home safe from lead and asbestos. Minimize the use of toxic household cleaners, pesticides and other chemicals.
KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE FROM DANGEROUS GASES
Test your home for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks. Keep your home free of tobacco smoke. Use efficient wood burning stoves, and make sure carbon monoxide (CO) alarms work properly.
Healthy Homes Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Phone: 802-863-7220 or
800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)
Fax: 802-863-7483
Lead poisoning can be prevented when you know what danger signs and hazards to look for in your home and in other places.
Thinking about renovating your home? If you are a do-it-yourselfer or hiring a professional, there are some health precautions you should know about before you begin a renovation project.
National studies have shown that air pollution in our homes can be more of a health concern than air pollution outside.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas you cannot see or smell. It is produced when liquid, solid or gas fuel is burned—such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, wood and wood pellets.
Pests in and around our homes can be a nuisance. Pests include insects (e.g. cockroaches, bed bugs, wasps, and garden bugs), rodents (e.g. mice and rats), and weeds.
Injuries, accidents and poisonings are common in homes. Taking precautions can help prevent them from happening in your home and help to keep yourself and your family safe.