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Testing Children
The Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) recommends:
- ALL children have a blood lead test at least once a year through age 3.
- Children at high risk for lead exposure should continue to be tested yearly through age 6.
- Ask your doctor or call DCHD at 444-7825 to schedule a test or receive more information.
Risk Factors
Anyone at any age can be poisoned by lead, but children under age 7 are most susceptible.
Some signs that a child is at high risk for lead poisoning include the following:
- They live in a high-risk community or zip code identified by age of housing stock;
- They receive Medicaid or help from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
- They live in homes built before 1978;
- They live in a home built before 1978 that has chipping or peeling paint;
- They live with people who may be exposed to lead at work or from a hobby;
- Their regularly visit a home or building built before 1978;
- They live or have lived near an active lead smelter, a battery recycling plant, or another industry likely to release lead into the air;
- Their pre-1978 home has been renovated recently or is being renovated; or
- Other children in the family or neighborhood have tested high for lead.
Blood Lead Testing
Blood lead testing is the best way to check to see if your child is at risk for lead poisoning. A finger blood lead test is a quick and easy test. A little blood
is taken from the finger and checked for lead. Blood can also be taken from the arm by what is called a venous test.
Costs of getting a blood lead test will differ depending on your service provider.
In Omaha, many clinics offer free blood lead testing.
Contact the Douglas County Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for more information on testing services.
Making Your Home LEAD-SAFE
A lead-safe house may have many places with lead but not be dangerous because the lead has no way of getting from where it is into your body. While some people think
that lead poisoning happens when children chew on paint chips that taste sweet, actually the dust from deteriorated lead paint is the main problem. You can help make your
house lead-safe when you make sure that your house is free from peeling paint and dust.
To get a lead-safe house, you need to know the followings:
- Any home built before 1978 may contain lead paint and dust. These homes in particular need to be well maintained and clean.
- Clean up lead dust by using a wet-mop a high-phosphate cleaner such as automatic dishwasher detergent powder (not liquid or gel) in hot water, or Trisodium Phosphate powder (TSP) available at any paint or hardware store.
- All rags and paper towels that you use for cleaning leaded surfaces should be thrown away or kept in a special, labeled plastic bag for the same use. Keep a special bucket for wiping leaded surfaces.
- Toys and pacifiers that toddlers put in their mouths should be washed often. Use only soap and water.
- Wash children’s hands and face often. Especially before eating and going to bed.
- Make sure children eat frequent nutritious meal, low-fat meals high in iron, calcium and vitamin C. (Click here) Good nutrition can help to prevent the absorption of lead in the body.
- Check all painted surfaces frequently for cracking and flaking. Be especially careful about places where a child can chew such as old furniture and window sills.
- Paint rubbing against paint causes dust, for example on wood windows and doors. This dust falls down in the window well or on the floor near the door and gets into your body. These areas need to be cleaned frequently.
- Never vacuum lead dust or chips with your regular vacuum cleaner. Use a HEPA vacuum, which can be used on a loan basis from a local Omaha agency.
EPA’s Lead Poisoning and Your Children - PDF
Contact the City of Omaha Lead Hazard Control Program to see if you qualify for services to help make your home lead-safe. 402-444-7903
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