New Report Shows Decreases in Young Children Who Received Blood Lead Level Testing During COVID-19
A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows that many of Wisconsin children missed recommended blood lead testing during COVID-19. The number of Wisconsin children tested for elevated blood lead levels went down by 75% in April 2020, compared to April 2019.
There's no safe level of lead exposure in children. Learn more about why it's important to test your child.
New!! Interactive Toolkit for Lead Poisoning Prevention
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs released an interactive toolkit with resources to prevent and mitigate maternal and childhood lead poisoning. The toolkit compiles educational, advocacy, and planning resources for public health agencies working to prevent lead poisoning.
The project was supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services through its Maternal and Child Health Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (COIIN).
Lead Poisoning is Preventable
Lead damages the brain and other body systems. Lead can hurt anyone, but kids under age 6 are most vulnerable, and the damage can last a lifetime.
Fortunately, lead poisoning is 100% preventable. It's usually caused by swallowing or breathing in dust from lead-based paint in older homes. We can protect kids by making sure the homes they live and play in are free from lead dust. Learn more below.
- What is lead poisoning?
- Where is lead commonly found in Wisconsin?
- Who is at risk?
- Effects of lead
- Prevent lead poisoning
- Get educational materials about lead
- Test your child for lead
- Check and maintain your home
- Find a certified lead renovation company
- Report unsafe lead or asbestos work
- Before you buy or rent a home built before 1978
- Learn about other emerging sources of lead
- Learn about screening and testing for lead
- Intervention at the clinic level
- Monitor lead levels
- Coordinate care with public health
- Training and certification to work with lead-based paint
- Wisconsin's Lead-Safe Renovation Rule
- Become a lead-certified individual or company
- Certification requirements for lead-based paint activities
- Find a lead-certified company to fix hazards
- Hire a lead investigation company to identify lead hazards
- Learn more about the Lead-Safe Homes Program
- Find other funds to fix lead hazards
- Understand what working "lead-safe" looks like
- Locate a training class
- Find a state lead exam location
- Find a Wisconsin-accredited training provider
- Watch "hands-on" skills training
- Find forms and publications
