By: Jenna Willems, MPH, CHES,
HUD Program Manager & Healthy Homes Program Coordinator
Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health
Our health and well-being can feel like a 1000-piece puzzle at times. One section of that puzzle is a healthy home environment. Air quality, moisture levels, building materials, contaminants, and other conditions can heavily impact our health given the amount of time we spend in our homes. On average, Americans spend nearly 5,500 hours per year in our homes. For an average American living to age 79, that is 49 years of life spent in our home environment! This explains why our home environment significantly impacts our health and quality of life.
A healthy home is a home that is dry, clean, pest-free, safe, contaminant-free, ventilated, maintained, and temperature controlled. Even homes that may appear healthy at first glance, may not be! Home health hazards can create long-term health risks such as the increased risk of lung cancer due to continual exposure to high levels of radon gas in your home. Health risks can also come from temporary hazards such as issues with mold, bed bugs, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Other risks, such as lead poisoning from lead-based paint, can cause permanent damage in children, and affect us for years to come. These hazards range in severity and impact on our well-being however, they all deserve our attention as homeowners and/or tenants.
The following are 10 free or low-cost ways to start making your home a “healthy home”:
- Assess the fall hazards in your home. Add non-slip rugs in bathrooms, secure loose railings on staircases, and install window guards on high story windows where children play.
- Seal gaps or holes around the roof, attic, windows, or doors to prevent rodents or bugs from getting in.
- Program the Poison Control Hotline into your cell phone: 1-800-222-1222. You can’t predict when emergencies will strike, but you can be prepared to act quickly!
- Change your furnace air filter monthly. This can improve air quality and heating/cooling.
- Buy a carbon monoxide detector from your local hardware store and place within 10 feet of each sleeping area.
- If you have young children in the home, check the painted surfaces in and around your home for lead-based paint. Contact the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health for a FREE lead inspection.
- Test your home for radon. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health sells test kits for $6.
- Place pesticides and chemicals in a locked or unreachable cabinet. This includes laundry/dishwasher detergent and other cleaning supplies.
- Install new batteries in your smoke detectors and ensure you have a working smoke detector on every level of your home.
- Get the mop & vacuum out! Dust and allergens can accumulate quickly. Cleaning regularly is a form of home maintenance that can help you notice moisture or pest issues sooner than later!
I hope you will join us this month in celebrating Healthy Homes Awareness Month, by taking preventive measures to improve your home environment. Let’s spend those 49 years of our lives in healthier place than it was yesterday!
I see no mention of poisonous chem trails – make sure you wear a mask while taking a walk – look up my boy – if you see them head for shelter and turn on the air conditioner.
She didn’t mention one of the top issues and health hazards. Leaky roofs and faucets which release moisture and can cause toxic mold in the home. Combine the moisture with dust and filth and you have a very unhealthy home.
1619 north pennsylvania in mason city needs to be condemned. Matt dodge has a few houses that should not be lived in, yet they stick low income families in them not carrying about their well being.
Those renters are not forced to live in substandard housing. If they are on Sect 8 they would need to report non repairs.
Its been reported many times since 2004 when the problems started. Its 2017, and the city has inspected it several times. I was there for one of the inspections, and their maintenance man escorted the city employee through the house, making sure to avoid anything that would make the house unlivable. Black mold, water leaking, walls shagging from the roof leaking. Electric only works in part of the house. It was flooded last year, 4 foot of water in the basement. They refused to fix anything. The hotwater heater and furnace should have been replaced or at least serviced, and I know for a fact that wasn’t do e, because I had to help get both running again. I own property near this house, ive had to help residence more than once due the dodges not being honest. This town is run by crooks whom help out their crook friends.
I’m not sure my home is healthy but it would be a lot better with Jenna in it. She is HOT!