October 1
Prevent
Mercury Exposure at School
Avoid using liquid mercury in school. Check labs for mercury and
other unused chemicals. Dispose of all chemicals properly.
October 2
Clean
Mercury Spills Safely
Open windows and contact your local fire, health or environmental
department about spill clean-up procedures. Never sweep or vacuum
mercury or pour it down the drain. Call your local poison control
center at 1-800-222-1222.
October 3
Replace
Mercury Fever Thermometers
Replace mercury thermometers with digital or mercury-free thermometers.
Safely dispose of mercury thermometers and household mercury at
a hazardous waste collection site.
October 4
Protect Children from Contaminated
Fish
Eat a balanced diet, including fish. Avoid fish with high levels
of mercury and other contaminants. Be aware of local fish advisories.
Contact your state health or environmental department.
October 5
Reduce
Mercury Products in the Home and at School
Safely dispose of products such as thermostats, fluorescent lamps,
and button batteries that may contain mercury. Contact your state
health or environmental department.
October 6
Join International Walk
to School Day
Encourage fitness and reduce traffic and air pollution. Walk, bike,
carpool, or ride school buses to get to school safely.
October 7
Reduce Children's Exposure
to Diesel Exhaust
Urge schools to stop unnecessary bus idling, retrofit buses, and
replace the oldest buses in the fleet.
October 8
Protect Children
from Too Much Sun
Wear hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing. Use sunscreen with
SPF 15+ on kids over 6 months and keep infants out of direct sunlight.
October 9
Be Sunwise!
Sponsor classroom and school-wide activities that raise children's
awareness of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and simple
sun safety practices.
October 10
Promote Food
Safety
Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating and
peel them whenever possible to reduce dirt, bacteria, and pesticides.
Trim fat from meat and skin from poultry and fish.
October 11
Protect
Children from Chemicals in School
Train school staff, teachers, and facility managers to handle chemicals,
including pesticides and cleaning products, safely. Implement an
Integrated Pest Management program at your school.
October 12
Reduce
Use of Pesticides at Home
To avoid pests in your home, store food and trash in closed containers.
Use baits and traps when you can and place them where kids can't
get them. If pesticides are used, read the label carefully.
October 13
Lock
it Up!
Store pesticides and other chemicals in a locked cabinet. Never
put them in other containers that kids can mistake for food or drink.
If a child is poisoned, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
October 14
Provide Children
Safe Drinking Water
Call your local public water supplier for annual drinking water
quality reports. Have private water wells tested annually by a certified
laboratory. For information call 1-800-426-4791.
October 15
Protect
Children at the Beach
Check beach closures and advisories. Call the local beach manager
for more information.
October 16
Inspect
for Asbestos
Check insulating materials to ensure they remain intact. Don't disturb
them, but check for signs of wear. For information call 1-800-368-5888.
October 17
Observe
National Radon Action Week October 17-23
Test your home for radon with a home test kit. Fix your home if
your radon level is 4pCi/L or higher. Call your state radon office
or 1-800-SOS-RADON.
October 18
Protect Children from Carbon
Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
Install a CO alarm that meets UL, IAS, or Canadian standards in
all sleeping rooms. Never sleep in rooms with unvented gas or kerosene
heaters. Call 1-800-638-2772.
October 19
Prevent CO Poisoning
Check fuel-burning appliances, furnace flues, and chimneys yearly.
Never use gas ovens or burners for heat, or use charcoal grills
indoors. Never run generators, cars or mowers inside the garage
or living spaces. Call 1-800-638-2772.
October 20
Prevent
Asthma Attacks
Work with a health professional to develop an asthma management
plan. Learn what triggers your child's asthma and eliminate or reduce
exposure to those allergens and irritants. Call 1-866-NO-ATTACKS.
October 21
Reduce Indoor Asthma
Triggers
Keep homes, schools, and child care centers clean. Use dustproof,
zippered bedding covers. Control triggers such as cockroaches, pet
dander, dust mites, mold, and secondhand smoke. Call 1-866-NO-ATTACKS.
October 22
Protect Children
from Secondhand Smoke
Don't smoke or let others smoke in your home or car. Take the Smoke-Free
Home Pledge by calling 1-866-SMOKE-FREE.
October 23
Reduce the Risk
of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Do not let your baby sleep in areas where someone has smoked. Place
babies on their backs at night and naptime. Remind child care providers,
grandparents, baby sitters, siblings, and caregivers.
October 24
National Lead Poisoning Prevention
Week October 24-30
Have your kids tested for lead by their health care provider or
your local health department. If your home was built before 1978,
test for lead paint hazards. Call 1-800-424-LEAD.
October 25
Protect Children
from Lead Poisoning
Temporarily reduce lead hazards; wash floors and windowsills to
protect kids from dust and peeling lead-based paint. To permanently
remove lead hazards, hire a certified abatement professional.
October 26
Reduce Risks
from Lead in Drinking Water
Run cold water until it becomes as cold as it can get. Use only
cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula.
October 27
Ask About Lead
when Buying or Renting
Sellers and landlords must disclose known lead hazards in houses
or apartments built before 1978. For information call 1-800-424-LEAD.
October 28
Reduce
Exposure to Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)
Never burn CCA-treated wood. Wash hands after contact with treated
wood, especially before eating and drinking. Ask about coatings
for play structures, decks, tables, landscaping timbers, residential
fencing, and walkways.
October 29
Reduce Air Pollution
Find out when air pollution is high in your area from newspapers,
TV or radio stations. Limit outside activities when the Air Quality
Index (AQI) rises to unhealthy levels. Walk, bike, carpool or use
public transportation.
October 30
Improve Indoor Air Quality
in Schools
Make sure school heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
are working properly. Implement the IAQ Tools for Schools program
in your school to improve indoor air quality.
October 31
Protect Children
from Mold
Fix moisture problems and thoroughly dry wet areas such as carpets,
walls, and ceiling tiles within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Fix leaky plumbing and other water problems in your home.
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