14 Kane Stores Join Campaign to Protect Children From Lead Poisoning
Understanding the importance of lead poisoning prevention, 14 local home improvement stores have partnered with Kane County Healthy Places Coalition to protect children from its lethal dangers.
Oct. 26-31 has been proclaimed as Lead Poisoning Prevention Week here in Kane County by our Kane County Board. Illinois has a high incidence of lead poisoning compared to other states. The Health Department wants Kane County residents to be aware of lead poisoning prevention because, as the saying goes, Kane Kids Run Better Unleaded.
Unlike other minerals such as iron, lead should not be in the human body at any level. It can cause such symptoms as developmental delay, learning difficulties, and stomach complaints. Chipping paint and lead dust are the common sources of lead and often found in homes built before 1978.
To promote lead awareness, the Healthy Places Coalition of Kane County is partnering with local home improvement stores to educate residents and make their safe lead removal supplies highly visible. Stop by your local home improvement store and find out how you can protect your family from lead poisoning.
For more information about the Health Places Coalition, please visit the Kane Healthy Places website or contact Terry Roman at 630-264-7653 or email RomanTerry@co.kane.il.us. Click this link to find more information about the Health Department’s Childhood Lead Prevention Program.
The following is a list of retail stores participating in Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Awareness:
- Home Depot, 1250 N. Orchard Road, Aurora
- Home Depot, 2111 S. Randall Road, Geneva
- Home Depot, 440 Randall Road, South Elgin
- Sugar Grove Ace Hardware, 160 E. Galena Boulevard, Sugar Grove
- Ace Hardware, 2144 W. Galena Boulevard, Aurora
- Ace Hardware, 994 N. Lake St., Aurora
- Ace Hardware, 1901 W. Wilson St., Batavia
- Geneva Ace Hardware, 617 W. State St., Geneva
- DG Ace Hardware, 2650 E. Main St., St. Charles
- Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, 301 Randall Road South Elgin
- Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, 1158 Lillian St., Elgin
- Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, 215 N. Spring St., Elgin
- Lowe’s, 955 S. Randall Road, St. Charles
- Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, Meadowdale Shopping Center, Carpentersville
Why Is This Important?
- The Kane County 2012-2016 Community Health Improvement Plan lists childhood lead poisoning as one of the six major threats to the residents of Kane County’s health and well-being.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Family
Here are some simple things you can do to help protect your family:
- Get your Home Tested. Before you buy an older home, ask for a lead inspection.
- Get your Child Tested. Even if your young children seem healthy, ask your doctor to test themfor lead.
- Get the Facts! The Kane County Health Department can provide you with helpful information about preventing childhood lead poisoning. Learn more by visiting this page on the Kane County website.
About the Kane County Health Places Coalition
The Kane County Healthy Places Coalition, a voluntary group of community advocates, has developed lead prevention materials for local paint stores to distribute, advising customers about safe ways to remove paint in homes built before 1978 when lead was no longer allowed as a component of paint. In addition residents of Kane County will be offer lead prevention bookmarks by many local agencies and organizations such as libraries, doctor offices, and social service agencies. To print out your own bookmarks, visit www.kanehealth.com and look up “lead” on A-Z services. Information about the Healthy Places Coalition can be found under “H” in the A-Z services.
About the Kane County Health Department
In active partnership with our community, the Kane County Health Department improves the quality of life and well-being of all residents by developing and implementing local policies, systems, and services that protect and promote health, and prevent disease, injury and disability. Visit the Health Department’s Facebook Page and sign up for the award-winning “Health Matters” newsletter.
