Make Your Home A Healthier Home (NAPSA)—Pro- tecting your family from potential health hazards in your home may be easier with a few tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unsafe and un- healthy homes continue to harm the Unhealthy housing conditions may seemlike cosmetic problems. But hazards can lurk where youleast expect them: peeling paint can contain lead, too much moisture can result in mold, and clutter can shelter insects and rodents. And some deadly hazards are invisible, such as carbon monoxide andradon. health of millions of Americans. The following sugges- tions look at some current common problems and offer simple solutions: Problem: Expo- sure to dust mites and mold aggravates asthma andresults in increased health costs each year. Solutions: Ensure proper ventilation in the attic and bathroom to prevent excessive moisture that can promote mold growth. Wash sheets and blankets in hot water weekly and use mattress and pillow covers to reduce asthma triggers and attacks. Vent the clothes dryer outside the home to prevent mold and mildew. Vacuum carpets to remove allergens that trigger asthma attacks andallergic reactions. Problem:Falls are the leading cause of home injury deaths. The cost of fall injuries for people 65 and older exceeds $19 billion annually. Solutions: Remove any items that can be tripped over (such as papers, books, clothes and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk. Good lighting can make a difference. Keep everything welllit. Install grab bars in bathrooms. Problem: For children, fire, suffocation, firearms, drowning and poisoning are the leading causes of deaths at home. Solutions: Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. * Make sure that cribs, playpens and play equipment are safe and always keepa crib free of soft objects or loose bedding. If you have a swimming pool, install four-sided isolation fencing around the pool with a self-closing,self-latching gate. In homes with young children, control or eliminate leadbased paint hazards and lock up products used for cleaning, car maintenance, gardening, and pest control. For more information, visit www.cde.gov/healthyhomes.
