Did you know that 70 children in northern Wisconsin alone tested positive for high blood lead levels in 2013? Although lead poisoning is preventable, many children are still exposed. Lead can cause long-term harm to children’s learning abilities and behavior. As a result, Lincoln County Health Department is teaming up with local hardware stores to prevent lead poisoning. The following hardware stores are providing free lead-safety booklets to customers.
• Ace Hardware Merrill
• Ace Hardware Tomahawk
• Trantow Do-It Center, Merrill
• Walmart, Merrill
“Lead poisoning can seriously affect a child’s health. The good news is that it is 100% preventable and one way parents can do this is by renovating safely,” says Sue Kuber, Public Health Nurse, at Lincoln County Health Department. Lead poisoning is caused most often by deteriorating lead-based paint or through improper renovation, repair, and painting activities in homes built before 1978. Families should be careful and use lead-safe practices when renovating, repairing, or painting older homes.
Whether you enjoy do-it-yourself projects or are simply working on an older home, pick up a booklet on lead paint safety in the paint department of any of these local hardware stores. The booklet is used by thousands of workers and contractors across the country and is full of great information about how you can prevent lead poisoning while doing home maintenance and renovation work.
For a list of companies qualified to work lead-safe when performing renovation, repair, painting, and remodeling activities visit: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/contractor/leadsafecompany.pdf
For more information, please contact: Sue Kuber, Public Health Nurse, Lincoln County Health Department, 607 N. Sales St., Suite 101, Merrill, 715-536-0307. Visit online at http://lincolncountyhealthdepartment.com and like us on Facebook.
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Hardware stores teaming up to prevent lead poisoning in Lincoln County
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