Protect children's environmental
health. Children may be more vulnerable to environmental exposures
than adults because:
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- Their bodily systems are still developing;
- They eat more, drink more, and breathe more in proportion to their
body size; and,
- Their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms.
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SIMPLE WAYS TO PROTECT
CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH |
HELP
CHILDREN BREATHE
EASIER
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Don't smoke and don't let others smoke in
your home or car.
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Keep your home as clean as
possible.
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Dust, mold, certain
household pests, secondhand smoke, and pet dander can trigger asthma attacks and allergic
reactions.
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Limit outdoor activity on ozone alert days when air pollution is
especially harmful.
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Walk, use bicycles, join or form carpools, and take public transportation.
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PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM LEAD
POISONING |
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PROTECT CHILDREN FROM FOODBORNE
ILLNESS |
- Children are particularly susceptible
to disease such as E. coli O157:H7 and Listeriosis.
Follow basic food safety rules (All from
:
CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often
SEPARATE: Don't cross-contaminate!
COOK: Cook food to proper temperature
CHILL: Refrigerate food promptly
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KEEP
PESTICIDES AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS AWAY FROM CHILDREN |
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Store food and trash in closed
containers to keep pests from coming into your home.
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Use baits and traps when you can; place baits and traps where kids
can't get them.
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Read product labels and follow directions.
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Store pesticides and toxic chemicals where kids can't reach them -
never put them in other containers that kids can mistake for food or
drink.
Household Chemicals Fact
Sheet (pdf <1mb) |
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Keep children, toys, and pets away when pesticides are applied;
don't let them play in fields, orchards, and gardens after
pesticides have been used for at least the time recommended on the
pesticide label. |
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PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM CARBON MONOXIDE
(CO) POISONING
- Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that
interferes with the delivery of oxygen in the blood to the rest of
the body and is highly poisonous.
- Have fuel-burning appliances, furnace flues, and chimneys checked
once a year.
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- Never use gas ovens or burners for heat; never use barbecues or
grills indoors or in the garage.
- Never sleep in rooms with unvented gas or kerosene space heaters.
- Don't run cars or lawnmowers in the garage.
- Install in sleeping areas a CO alarm that meets UL, IAS, or
Canadian standards.
- Something about generators after storms and power outages?? After
storms and power outages, don't run generators near open windows or
in your garage.
- What is Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
Chemical Surveillance index
(DOH)
FAQ Carbon Monoxide
(DOH)
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PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM CONTAMINATED
FISH AND POLLUTED WATER |
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Be alert for local fish advisories and
beach closings. Contact your local health department or view data at our
Beachwater Index
(opens in new window) and
Floridafishadvice
(DOH), and
our
Searchable fish consumption guide
(opens in new window)
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Take used motor oil to a recycling center. Do not pour into public sewers
or drains.
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Properly dispose of toxic household chemicals.
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Learn what's in your drinking water, test your well, and be alert for
water safety messages.
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Nitrates at elevated levels may be unsafe for very young babies; learn
more about your well water at
Nitrate.
(DOH)
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County health departments issue health advisories or warnings when beach
conditions confirm the presence of microorganisms that could cause disease,
infections, or rashes; learn more at our
Beachwater Index.
(opens in new window) |
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SAFEGUARD CHILDREN FROM HIGH LEVELS OF
RADON |
- Radon is a natural colorless, odorless gas that comes from various
rocks, soils, and underground water sources.
- Radon seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation or seams,
and can build up to dangerous levels inside your home.
- The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer due to radon is to
reduce your exposure to radon.
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- Test your home for radon with a home test kit.
- Repair your home if your radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher.
- More on
radon
(DOH)
 (graphic
link opens in new window)
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STAY SAFE ON THE BEACH, AT THE POOL, AND
PROTECT CHILDREN FROM TOO
MUCH
SUN
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DISPOSE OF ALL MERCURY IN HOMES AND SCHOOLS NOW AND
KEEP CHILDREN
AND MERCURY APART |
- Mercury is a naturally occurring metal. Liquid mercury is shiny
and silver-white. It is odorless. Most people have seen liquid
mercury sometime during their life in thermometers and barometers.
Mercury is also found in batteries, blood pressure machines, outdoor
lighting, indoor lighting, neon signs, camera equipment and dental
fillings.
- Eat a balanced diet but avoid
fish with high levels of mercury.
(DOH)
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Very
young children are more likely to be harmed by exposure to mercury
than adults.
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Pregnant women and children should keep away from rooms where
liquid mercury has been used or spilled.
Replace mercury
thermometers with digital thermometers.
- Dispose of any mercury items in
your house properly
(www.earth911.org
or 1-800-CLEANUP) -
opens in new window
- DO NOT let kids handle or play with mercury.
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PREVENT
MOSQUITO AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES |
- When possible, have your kids wear long
sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
- Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors.
- Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening (peak
mosquito biting times).
- Install or repair window and door screens so mosquitoes cannot sneak
indoors.
- Use products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET
Practice the 5-D's
- Don't go outdoors at DUSK and
DAWN when mosquitoes are most active.
- DRESS so your skin is covered with
clothing.
- Apply mosquito repellent containing
DEET to bare skin and clothing. Other effective repellents include
picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535.
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- Walk, use bicycles, join or form carpools, and take public transportation
to reduce air pollution and be more physically fit.
- Spearhead a clean school bus campaign in your community.
http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/whatyoucando.htm
(EPA)
- Develop safe routes so that children can walk to and from school, limiting
vehicle use, and increasing physical activity.
- Support local green building and smart growth activities. Smart growth is
development that serves the economy, the community, and the environment.
- For more information go to
smart-growth-transcript.htm.
(DOH)
- Birth defects are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in
Florida's children and contribute substantially to long-term
disability. The possible association between environmental
contaminants and human health problems is an important concern
throughout Florida.
- Maintain good pre-conception health by eating well balanced and
nutritional meals.
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- Take a daily dosage of multivitamin that consists of recommended
dosage of 400 mcg of folic acid and other essential B vitamins to
prevent spine and brain birth defects.
- Avoid activities that can lead to birth defects such as alcohol
consumption, smoking, drug usage, and caffeine consumption.
- Avoid exposure to infectious and toxic agents.
- Actively participate in neonatal wellness programs with your
doctor.
- For more information,
Florida Birth Defects Registry:
http://www.fbdr.org/index.html
http://www.cms-kids.com/families/families.html
- Reduce your child's exposure to potentially harmful radiation by
lowering the frequency and limit dose in medical/dental imaging and
intervention without compromising quality.
- Track the number of radiologic studies your children have:
Dose Record 8.5x11 fold
(pdf <1mb) (pedrad.org)
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- Use the lowest amount of radiation for adequate imaging based on
the size of the child.
- Avoid multiple and unnecessary scans.
- Request to use alternative diagnostic studies when possible (such
as ultrasound or MRI).
- Ask questions and direct your pediatrician or radiologist to more
information on this page:
http://www.pedrad.org/associations/5364/ig/index.cfm?page=591
(pedrad.org)
- For more information on how Florida's radiation control program
protects the public:
radiation (DOH)
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Image Gently TM (opens in new window) is an initiative of the
Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging. The goal is to
change practice by increasing awareness of the opportunities to
lower radiation dose in the imaging of children
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AFTER A
DISASTER, TAKE CARE IN RETURNING CHILDREN
TO AN IMPACTED AREA
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- Key issues for habitability of an area impacted by flooding and/or
hurricanes include restoration of drinking water and wastewater
treatment facilities, safe road conditions, removal of solid waste
and debris, and replacement or renovation of flood damaged homes.
- Before children return, schools and outdoor play areas should be
cleaned and ready for use.
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Children, and whenever possible teens, should not be involved in
clean up efforts but should return after the area is safe. In
short, children should be the last group to return to areas impacted
by flooding and/or hurricanes. |
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- For more information:
Food hurricane final (pdf
<1MB)
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RECONNECT OUR
CHILDREN TO
NATURE |
- There is concrete evidence that
children benefit from nature play.
- Kids with more experience in nature, even if it's just a view from
their room of a natural landscape, are more resilient.
- Children who spend time outdoors are likely to be: happier,
healthier, smarter, more cooperative, better problem solvers, and
more creative.
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- Support your child's environmental literacy with safe, supervised
time outside.
- Nature play helps children understand the role of the environment
as a natural resource and practice environmental stewardship.
- Take a child outside - and create the opportunity for your child
or children
to have unstructured time to play outdoors every day.
- Create a nature club for families and plan monthly outings with
other parents and families in your community.
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- Start a new kind of neighborhood watch so that children can play
within sight of adults while still experiencing some of the wonder
and learning inspired through free range play.
- Ride your bike or walk to school with your children and others in
the neighborhood.
- Encourage nature-based, child-friendly spaces and places
throughout communities.
- Make reconnecting children and nature a priority.
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Contact Information
For questions concerning childrens environmental health and the
Florida Department of Health's activities, please contact Ms.
Heather Lake-Burger:
Heather Lake-Burger, Environmental Specialist III
Florida Department of Health
Division of Environmental Public Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1712
Delivery address:
4042 Bald Cypress Way, Room 205F
Telephone: (850)245-4571
Fax: (850)922-8473
Email: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If
you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public
records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity.
Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing (F.S. 668.6076)
Email Heather Lake-Burger
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