Household Hints
Common Health Hazards Lurk in U.S. Homes
By
Oct 3, 2007, 22:04

(NAPSI)-Many Americans feel safe once they are behind the closed doors of their home. However, you and your family may not be as safe as you think and may be vulnerable to common environmental threats.

A national survey conducted by Orkin, Inc., found that while 61 percent of Americans are concerned that pests like ticks and rodents may negatively affect their health, 60-70 percent do not consult a professional to control pests inside their homes.

Together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the premier public health agency in the world, and the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), a national scientific organization focused on protecting children from environmental hazards in the home while preserving affordable housing, Orkin, Inc., has launched a campaign to educate individuals on how to protect themselves from hidden home threats.

"Preventing and reducing pest activity are two of the first steps to take toward creating a healthy home," states Ron Harrison, Ph.D. and director of training for Orkin, Inc.

According to Harrison, pests likely to pose threats include:

• Rodents, which can contaminate food and transmit diseases;

• Cockroaches, which spread germs and have been linked to the development of early childhood asthma;

• Mosquitoes, which need only a thimbleful of standing water to breed and can transmit diseases;

• Ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Harrison offers these tips for protecting your family and home:

• Clean up dirty dishes and tightly seal food containers to keep pests away.

• Trim plants and bushes away from the house and remove standing water in the yard to control mosquitoes.

• Wear repellent with DEET when outdoors and carefully inspect people and pets for ticks once inside.

• Seal cracks and crevices in the walls to prevent easy access for rodents.

To access a one-page guide on how to reduce the risk of hidden home threats, including pest-related diseases, lead, radon, carbon monoxide and mold, visit Orkin's Learning Center at www.orkin.com/learningcenter, or The National Center for Healthy Housing at www.nchh.org/html/ healthy_housing_resources.htm.

For additional information on health hazards in the home, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov or call Orkin at (800) 800-ORKIN.

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