The U.S. EPA has found that radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers. Because of the geology in northeast Illinois, the homes in Kane County have the potential for higher levels of radon.

As a way to raise awareness of National Radon Awareness Month during January, the Kane County Healthy Places Coalition has partnered with 12 local home improvement stores to promote testing your home for radon gas.

The coalition is also working with 12 public libraries in the county to increase awareness through displays, including advertising for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency-sponsored poster contest for middle school students and video contest for high school students. Learn more about radon, how to test and to fix the problem at kanehealth.com/radon.htm.

The poster contest is open to Illinois students ages 9 to 14 to create a poster that will increase public awareness of radon gas and encourage other Illinoisans to test their homes. By participating in the Illinois Radon Poster Contest, students will learn about radon and how to reduce their risk of exposure.

A state committee will select the top three winning posters from the entire state of Illinois to receive awards. The first-place winner will receive $200, second-place winner $150 and the third-place winner $100. The entries must be postmarked on or before March 2, 2017.

The Illinois Radon Video Contest is open to Illinois high school students and classes to create a 1 minute PSA/commercial-style video encouraging Illinois residents to test their homes. Videos are to be submitted via YouTube by March 9, 2017. The top ten videos will earn the following monetary prizes: 1st Place: $1,000 plus $300 for the school; 2nd Place: $750 plus $200 for the school; 3rd Place: $500 plus $100 for the school; and Honorable Mention (7): $250 per video. For the poster contest rules and general information, please click here; Rules and information about the video contest are available by clicking here.

About the Kane County Healthy Places Coalition: The Coalition is formed by participants from diverse aspects of the community, including the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Kane County Health Department, municipal governments, hospitals, fire departments, community advocacy groups, non-profits, private corporations, and many others. More info is available at http://kanehealth.com/healthy_places.htm

Kane County libraries that are featuring radon displays are:

• Aurora Main Branch
• Aurora West Branch
• Batavia Public Library
• Elgin-Gail Borden Library
• Hampshire (Ella Johnson Library)
• Messenger Public Library North Aurora
• St. Charles Public Library
• Waubonsee Community College
• Town and Country Public Library Elburn
• Geneva Public Library
• Fox River Valley Libraries: Dundee Library
• Sugar Grove Public Library
• Local businesses that are partnering with the Kane County Healthy Places Coaltion in its Radon Awareness promotion are:
• Ace Hardware, 2144 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora
• Ace Hardware, 994 N. Lake St., Aurora
• Ace Hardware, 1901 W. Wilson St., Batavia
• Ace Hardware, 617 W. State St., Geneva
• Ace Hardware, 2650 E Main St., St. Charles
• Ace Hardware, 160 E Galena, Sugar Grove
• Ziegler Ace Hardware, Meadowdale Shopping Center, Carpentersville
• Ziegler Ace Hardware, 215 N. Spring St., Elgin
• Ziegler Ace Hardware, 1158 Lillian St., Elgin
• Ziegler Ace Hardware, 301 Randall Road, South Elgin
• Home Depot, 1250 N. Orchard Road, Aurora
• Lowe’s, 955 S. Randall Road, St. Charles

Radon Testing Required by Law

Radon testing is now required by Illinois law for licensed child care centers and homes.  It is highly recommended that child care centers and homes promote radon testing to parents too — to make their homes safe.  This is a “Safe at child care”  AND “safe at home” approach! The best time to do this is when the center or home posts results of their own radon tests.

The Kane County Healthy Places Coalition has created the following tool kit to make it easy for child care centers and homes to encourage parents to test their homes. The Child Care Radon Testing Photo Journal Tool Kit provides a quick guide to the various action items that child care centers and homes can choose from the tool kit to promote radon awareness among parents.

CLICK HERE for a PDF of the following Radon Testing Photo Journal Tool Kit.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department

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.

About the Healthy Places Coalition

The mission of the Kane County Healthy Places Coalition is to engage all interested community members in assessing interest and issues for improving overall community health. The Coalition is formed by participants from diverse aspects of the community, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Kane County Health Department, municipal governments, hospitals, fire departments, community advocacy groups, non-profits, private corporations and many others. For more information, vision the Kane County Healthy Places Coalition web page.