Childcare Providers Training: LEAD POISONING PREVENTION

Transcription

1 Childcare Providers Training: LEAD POISONING PREVENTION

2 Participants Inputs What s on your mind? What do you want to bring back to your work when you leave here today? What else??????

3 Objectives Explain Information Memorandums issued by the Office of Head Start Tell what lead is Define what lead poisoning is Identify pathways of lead poisoning Explain health affects, and symptoms of lead poisoning Identify sources of lead Specify ways to detect lead List what childcare providers and parents can to do to prevent lead poisoning Define what anemia is Identify causes of anemia List signs/symptoms of anemia Explain the relationship between lead poisoning and anemia State ways to prevent anemia

4 Office of Head Start Information Memorandum, 2008: Lead Screening Reiterates the importance of lead screenings (low-income & Medicaid-eligible children: 5 times more likely to have harmful blood lead levels than the general child population) Clarifies the requirements for lead screening for Head Start Children: all Medicaid-eligible children have to be tested for lead; if a child s medical provider does not perform a lead screening blood test, then the Head Start Program is required to assist the family in obtaining the screening from other community resources; if there are no other resources available, the Head Start Program has to find a licensed certified health professional perform the screening. Requires Head Start Program to ensure that the results of diagnostic and treatment procedures are shared with and understood by parents, and to work in partnership with parents to identify the resources needed to execute the follow-up plan.

5 What is Lead? A highly toxic metal that produces a range of serious health effects especially in children It exists in the natural and human environment

6 What is Lead Poisoning? A serious yet preventable medical condition caused by increased levels of metal lead in the blood that can cause damage to vital organs in the body. It is one of the most common pediatric health problems in the United States today

7 Pathways of Lead Poisoning Ingestion of lead or lead contaminated items/particles inhalation of lead fumes

8 Effects of Lead on Children Lead contains a neurotoxin that is harmful to fetuses and developing young children. Extremely high levels: seizures, coma, even death. Other adverse health effects:» Brain damage,» Learning or behavior problems ;» Lowering a certain degree of IQ;» Hearing loss;» Slow development;» Restlessness; and» Liver, bone marrow and kidney damage.

9 Symptoms Most children don t show any symptoms unless blood-lead levels become extremely high. However, some symptoms may include: -headaches -stomachaches -nausea -tiredness and irritability

10 Symptoms of Lead Poisoning (cont d)

11 How to Detect Lead Poisoning? The only way to detect lead poisoning is by performing a simple blood test

12 Sources of Lead Include..

13 Pre-1979 residential homes: damaged paint Lead-Based Paint

14 Soil surrounding homes may be contaminated from chipping or flaking exterior leadbased paint or auto exhaust from lead gasoline. Soil

15 Dust can be contaminated and spread throughout a home when walls or other painted surfaces are sanded, scraped, or damaged. Dust

16 Children s Toys

17 Family members who work in lead-related industries ( e.g., construction, painting, automotive, recycling industries) or are engaged in hobbies (fishing, shooting) that have lead can track the lead content into their homes. Jobs/Hobbies

18 Folk Medicines

19 Metallic Jewelry

20 Children s Art Items

21 Children s Clothing

22 Food and spices can be contaminated by lead during the manufacturing processes or wrappers that contain lead wrappers Food and Spices

23 Imported/Hand-Made Ceramic Wares

24 Lead-contaminated Drinkning Water Old pipes and faucets may contain lead.

25 Computer and TV Cables

26 Cosmetics

27 What can Childcare Providers do? 1. Classroom Exercise (for teaching staff) Examples: - Name 3 sources of lead - Describe 2 behaviors that help prevent lead poisoning - Name foods that can help reduce lead poisoning (calcium, iron, vitamin C) - Buster, dust, and chip (socks or paper bags

28 What can Childcare Providers do? 2. Home Advisory: Talking Points: - Why worried about lead? - Could lead be found in & around home? - How to find out if your child is lead poisoned? - How to prevent lead poisoning?

29 Simple Things That Parents Can Do At Home.

30 Proper maintenance of Homes Keep paint in good condition Talk with landlord about fixing damaged paint Hire certified-lead construction professional to maintain and repair homes Get Help from Mayor s Office of Housing

31 Practice healthy home habits, such as regular vacuuming carpets (using HEPA vacuum cleaner), and cleaning of floors or other surfaces regularly. Wipe soil off your shoes or change street shoes before entering the home Housekeeping

32 Personal Hygiene Have children wash their hands frequently, especially after playing, and before eating and sleeping. Keep children away from damaged paint and bare soil

33 Run Kitchen Sink Faucet

34 Use Lead-free Containers and Ceramic Wares

35 Nutrition Serve children foods with a high content of iron, calcium, and vitamin C. Adequate intake of these minimizes lead absorption in children s bodies.

36 Buy Only Lead-free Toys and Consume only lead-free Candies/Spices U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission: Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

37 What can Childcare Providers do? 3. In the facility:

38 Keep Paint in Good Condition

39 Keep Areas Clean and Dust Free

40 Take off Shoes Before Entering Centers

41 Provide Healthy and Nutritional Foods

42 Wash Children s Face and Hands Often

43 Use HEPA Vacuum for Cleaning Carpet

44 Identify Potential Lead Hazards

45 Use Safe and Proper Methods for Remodeling and Maintaining the Place

46 Hire Lead Certified Contractors

47 Have Lead Dust Clearance Inspection After Remodeling

48 Comply with Building Code when remodeling: Stop Prohibited Practices Meet Safe Performance Standards

49 Lead Educational Information Available for Parents

50 Anemia is defined as a pathologic deficiency in the amount of oxygencarrying hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Anemia

51 Causes of Anemia Blood Loss: excessive bleeding such as hemorrhages Iron deficiency: the bone marrow needs iron to make red blood cells Poor Nutrition: Vitamins and minerals are required to make red blood cells Chronic Illness: secondary to refractory anemia: inflammatory GI/GU diseases,malignancies(cancer), arthritis, kidney or liver failure, and acute and chronic infections.

52 Causes of Anemia (cont d) Cancer therapy: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or immunotherapy Pregnancy: Water weight gain during pregnancy dilutes red blood cells. Infiltration(replacement) of bone marrow with cancer Hemolysis: Breakdown or destruction of red blood cells

53 Causes of Anemia (cont d) Decreased red cell production due to low levels of erythropoietin ( a hormone produced by the kidney {90%} and liver {10%} which promotes red blood cell production Alcoholism: Poor nutrition due to lack of vitamins and minerals.

54 Causes of Anemia (cont d)

55 Lead Poisoning and Anemia Lead intoxication can cause anemia Anemia decreases quantity or quality of red blood cells Iron deficiency leads to the quantity of hemoglobin produced

56 Signs of Anemia Black and tarry stools (sticky and foul smelling) Maroon or invisible visibly bloody stools Rapid heart rate Rapid Breathing Pale or cold skin Yellow skin called jaundice

57 Signs of Anemia (cont d) Low blood pressure Heart murmur Enlargement of the spleen

58 Symptoms of Anemia Fatigue Trouble breathing Chest pain Abdominal pain Weight loss Weakness Dizziness and passing out, especially upon standing.

59 Ways to Prevent Anemia

60 Eat Iron Rich Foods

61 Cook Using Cast Iron Cookware

62 Cow s milk does not contain iron: limit milk to no more than three cups a day Limit Cow Milk

63 Take Part in Moderate Exercise

64 Avoid Contact with Leadcontaminated Products

65 Children s Toy Recall Websites: U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission: Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

66 Get a Sufficient Amount of Sleep/Rest

67 Control Other Health Problems