Common Health Hazards Lurk in U.S. Homes (NAPSA)—Many Americans feel safe once they are behind the closed doors of their home. However, you and your family may not be as safe as you think and may be vulnerable to common environmental threats. A national survey conducted = BACOR by Orkin, Inc., found that while 61 percent of Americans are concerned that pests like ticks and rodents may negatively affect their health, 60-70 percent do not consult a professional to control pests inside their homes. Together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the premier public health agency in the world, and the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), a national scientific organization focused on protecting children from environmental hazards in the home while preserving affordable housing, Orkin, Inc., has launched a cam- paign to educate individuals on how to protect themselves from hidden homethreats. “Preventing and reducing pest activity are two of the first steps to take toward creating a healthy " iD ‘ = :5 _ — a Ss == c = = ; 7 =a ; dh P etch 4 A( s : 3 " ~ Wilton inet = = sth | . _ eT. Home is where the heart is, but home could also be a haven for hidden pests and environmental threats. There are many simple steps you can take to keep your homesafe for your family. Harrison offers these tips for protecting your family and home: Clean up dirty dishes and tightly seal food containers to keep pests away. Trim plants and bushes away from the house and remove standing water in the yard to control mosquitoes. and director of training for Orkin, e Wear repellent with DEET when outdoors and carefully inspect people and pets for ticks onceinside. Seal cracks and crevices in the walls to prevent easy access for rodents. According to Harrison, pests likely to pose threats include: how to reduce the risk of hidden home threats, including pest- Cockroaches, which spread germs and havebeen linked to the development of early childhood Mosquitoes, which need only a thimbleful of standing water to visit Orkin’s Learning Center at www.orkin.com/learningcenter, or The National Center for Healthy Housing at www.nchh.org/html/ healthy_housing_resources.htm. For additional information on Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov or call Orkin at (800) 800-ORKIN. home,” states Ron Harrison, Ph.D. Inc. Rodents, which can contaminate food and transmit diseases; asthma; breed and can transmit diseases; Ticks, which can transmit To access a one-page guide on related diseases, lead, radon, carbon monoxide and mold, health hazards in the home, visit
