Preventing exposure to lead around your home is one way to protect your child from lead poisoning. You can also take an assessment to see if your child is at higher-risk. Signs of lead poisoning are not always easy to see, so you may also want to have your child tested.

How to prevent exposure

• Find out when your home was built. Homes built before 1978 may have been painted with lead-based paint.
• Inspect your home for signs of chipping, peeling or deteriorating paint.
• Clean up paint chips immediately and keep paint in good condition.
• Keep the places where children play clean and dust free. Regularly wipe floors, window sills and other surfaces that may contain lead dust with a damp cloth.
• Use lead-safe work practices or hire a lead-safe professional for maintenance, renovations or repair.
• Wash children’s hands often, especially before meals and after playing outside.
• Wash toys, stuffed animals, bottles and pacifiers often to remove lead dust.
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in soil that may contain lead.
• Have children play on grass instead of bare soil. Provide a sandbox with lead-free sand.
• Provide meals high in iron, vitamin C, and calcium.  These minerals and vitamins help prevent young bodies from absorbing lead.
• Use cold water for drinking, cooking or making baby formula to prevent consuming water that has sat in the pipes too long. Run the water 15-30 seconds until it feels colder.
• Do not use home remedies or cosmetics that may contain lead.
• Do not use imported, old, or handmade pottery to cook, store or serve food or drinks.
• If you work with lead in your job or hobby, change clothes and shower before you go home.
• If your children are at risk, have their blood lead level tested.

Determining risk

Use the questions below to determine if your child is at risk for lead poisoning. If the answer to any questions is “yes” or “don’t know,” a blood lead test should be performed.

1. Does your child spend time in an old home or building built before 1950?
2. Has your child recently spent time in an old home or building where repairs and/or remodeling was being done
3. Has your child recently spent time in an old home or building where painting is being done inside or outside the home?
4. Does your child have a brother or sister who has lead poisoning or does your child know anyone with lead poisoning?
5. Does your child spend time with anyone who uses lead in their work or hobbies? Examples:  Painting, remodeling, auto radiators, batteries, auto repair, soldering, making sinkers, bullets, stained glass, pottery, going to shooting ranges, hunting or fishing.
6. Do you use imported pottery, ceramics, lead crystal or pewter for cooking or storing/serving food
7. Has your child ever taken traditional or home remedies or used make-up imported into the U.S.?
8. Has your child visited or lived outside the U.S.in the last 6 months?