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Spring 2004
 HEALTH
HINTS
The Air Life clinical staff handles medical emergencies every day, but
they also have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to safety, minor
injuries and ailments. In this issue, our perinatal flight nurse Sue
Standly, RNC, shares tips on Lead Poisoning.
Though
it hasn¹t been a top news story since pencils switched to graphite,
lead poisoning remains an important preventable public health problem.
Children can be exposed to lead through a variety of sources often
in ways parents and grandparents might not suspect.
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Sue
Standly, RNC |
Although ingestion of paint dust from lead based paint remains the most
significant source of lead exposure in children, lead can be present
in unsuspected objects which, when ingested, can result in elevated
lead levels. Lead can be present in curtain weights, fishing sinkers,
lead shot/pellets and clothing accessories.
As we all know, children have a fondness for putting
things in their mouths. In 2002, the American Association of Poison
Control Centers received over 80,000 calls regarding ingestion of
foreign bodies, toys and miscellaneous objects in children under the
age of six. Though it¹s unknown how many of these cases involved lead
foreign bodies, poison centers received 6,000 calls about lead exposures
in children under the age of six during that same time period.
By regulation, paint or surface coatings may not contain
more than 0.06 percent lead content on items intended for children.
For all other products not intended for children, the hazardous amount
of lead is determined on case-by-case basis. Although testing for
lead hazards is recommended prior to the sale, it is not required
under current federal regulations. That¹s one reason it¹s so important
to watch out for little ones around the house. That fishing sinker
isn¹t just a choking hazard, it might also be a risk for lead poisoning.
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Where
Else is Lead Lurking?
Lead can be found in curtain weights, fishing sinkers, lead shots/pellets
and clothing accessories. But did you know about these potential
sources of lead poisoning?
- Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating
buildings.
- Materials used in making stained glass windows.
- Lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures and valves can contain lead that can contaminate drinking water.
- Lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures and valves can contain lead that can contaminate drinking water.
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Symptoms of lead poisoning can include irritability,
lethargy or hyperactivity, abdominal pain, constipation, or vomiting.
If you suspect your little one may have ingested an object containing
lead, call 911 immediately and seek medical help. Try to keep the
child calm. And as always, prevention is the most important factor.
If it¹s big enough to fit in a child¹s mouth, it should be kept safely
out of reach.
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