General Housing Characteristics 

CONCERN

NURSE TO DO

FAMILY TO DO 

Age of Home

■     If built before 1978, educate as follows:

o     Home is likely to have lead paint.

o     Lead hazards can be harmful to young children’s health and development.

o     If family has a child less than six years old then it is important to test for lead hazards.

■     Get more information about lead testing at www.epa.gov/lead/ and provide to family.

■     Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■      If your child is less than six years old, contact the childhood lead poisoning prevention program (CLPPP) at your state and local departments of health.

■      Consider getting a lead paint inspection or risk assessment to determine whether there are lead hazards in your home.

■      If there are hazards, repair them based on state and local regulations and requirements.  Consult with state CLPPP.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Heating source - Other:  Kerosene heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves

■     Counsel family about the dangers of such heating sources in terms of fire safety and indoor air quality.

■     Get more information about indoor air quality and combustion sources in the home at www.epa.gov/iaq/combust.html  and provide to family.

■     Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     Make sure kerosene heaters are vented to the outdoors or not used.

■     Make sure space heaters are at least 3 feet from anything flammable.

■     When necessary, use only 12 or 14 gauge extension cords (the lower the better).

■     Ensure that there is a good seal on fireplace screen or woodstove doors.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Filters

■     Counsel family to do proper filter maintenance.

■     Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     Change filters quarterly.

■     Use filters which are rated MERV 10.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Indoor Pollutants

CONCERN

NURSE TO DO

FAMILY TO DO

Vaporizers / Humidifiers

■     Counsel the family about the importance of proper vaporizer/humidifier maintenance and impact of mold growth on patient health.

■     Get more information about humidifier maintenance at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/humidif.html and provide to family.

■     Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     Change the water daily with clean cold water.

■     Use distilled or demineralized water.

■     Clean humidifier every 3 days.  Follow manufacturer’s instructions.

■     Change filter regularly.  Follow manufacturer’s instructions.  Change more often if dirty.

■     Keep surrounding area dry. 

■     Drain and clean humidifier before storing.

■     Only run humidifier a few hours a day to avoid mold growth.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Mold/Musty odor

■     Educate family about the importance of keeping things dry and the impact of mold on family health.

■     Get more information at www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html and provide to family.

■     Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     Any mold or musty odor must be investigated for a source of water.  Examine plumbing, roofing, or other possible leaks.

■     If homeowner, then make necessary repairs.

■     If renter, then talk with your landlord about needed repairs.  Consider calling the local board of health for possible code violations.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Pets

■    If patient is allergic to pets, educate as follows:

o     Pets should not be allowed in bedrooms.

o     If possible, pets should be given away.

o     If pets cannot be given away, wash and groom pet to reduce allergens.

■     Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     If symptomatic, get allergen testing to determine if you are allergic to pets.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Infestations (mice, rats, cockroaches)

■    Educate family about pest management and behavior change.

■    Get more information and order print materials at www.epa.gov/pesticides/catalogue and provide to family.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Eliminate water and food sources.  Seal garbage and all foodstuffs. Look for water leaks.

■    Call local board of health for inspection

■    AVOID “bombs” of pesticides.

■    Hire, or talk to your landlord about hiring, an exterminator for “Integrated Pest Management” which does NOT include spraying pesticides.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Lead-based  paint hazards

■    See “Age of Home” above.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    See “Age of Home” above.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Radon

■     Educate family about impact of radon on health.

■    Get more information about radon and radon  testing at www.epa.gov/radon/ and provide to family.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Consider purchasing a radon home test kit.

■    Consult with your state and local departments of health about radon.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Asbestos

■    Educate family about impact of asbestos on health.

■   Get more information about asbestos testing at www.epa.gov/asbestos/ and provide to family.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Do not disturb any surfaces which might contain asbestos.

■   Consult with your state and local departments of health about asbestos.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Smoke alarm / CO alarm

■    If no smoke alarms, educate about risks and local laws regarding the presence of smoke alarms.

■    Counsel family to :

o     Install smoke alarms in home on every level and in every sleeping area.

o     Test them once a month.

o     Replace the batteries at least twice a year.

o     Replace alarms every 10 years.

■     If they have combustion appliances but no CO alarms, educate about risks and local laws regarding the presence of CO alarms.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     If no smoke alarms, then:

o     Purchase smoke alarms.  Ensure that there is an operational smoke alarm on every floor of the home and in every sleeping area.

o     Call local board of health for local smoke alarm requirements.  Some states have laws regarding presence of smoke alarms.

■     If combustion appliances and no CO alarms, then:

o     Make sure to purchase CO alarms which log peak levels.  Ensure that there is an operational CO alarm on every floor of the home.

o     Call local board of health for local CO alarm requirements.  Some states now have laws regarding presence of CO alarms.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

¨   Educate about risks of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) to children.

¨   Get more information about ETS at www.epa.gov/smokefree/index.html and provide to family.

¨   Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Choose not to smoke in your home and car and do not allow family and visitors to do so. Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable to the health risks from secondhand smoke.

■    Do not allow childcare providers or others who work in your home to smoke.

■    Until you can quit, choose to smoke outside. Moving to another room or opening a window is not enough to protect your children.

■    Get help to stop smoking.  Refer to EPA Smokefree Home pledge website www.epa.gov/smokefree and contact local smoking cessation services.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Other Irritants

(scents, potpourri)

¨   If air fresheners present, educate as follows:

o     Many air fresheners have volatile organic compounds (VOC) which trigger asthma. Avoid these products whenever possible.

¨   Get more information about VOCs at www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html and provide to family.

¨   Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Remove air fresheners from home.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Cleaning

¨   Educate about benefits of wet mopping.

¨   Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     Avoid dry mopping or sweeping which makes dust airborne and may trigger an asthma exacerbation. Use wet mopping instead.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: