Two years later, many NJ communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy still find themselves in the recovery phase. As the weather continues to warm, residents will be renovating and remodeling their homes and businesses in order to rebuild what was lost. During this process, the NJ Poison Experts want to remind home and business owners of the dangers that lead dust poses to the health and well-being of those living and working in the home or building.
If your home or building was built before 1978, chances are it contains some lead-based paint on the walls, window sills, door frames, and woodwork. It is extremely important to test the paint for lead prior to doing any repairs. Be sure to hire professionals that are certified in lead-safe work practices. Disturbance/deterioration of the paint (peeling or sanding) causes lead-contaminated dust to enter the bloodstream either by breathing it in or ingesting it.
“Lead poisoning is of particular concern during the rebuilding phase,” said Steven Marcus, MD, executive and medical director of the NJ Poison Center. Lead is a highly toxic substance that can affect both children and adults, especially young children.
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The poison experts remind you that lead poisoning is preventable. Be sure to protect yourself and your loved ones from lead dust while doing home or building repairs. A poison expert is available 24/7/365 for safety tips on how to protect oneself from lead poisoning.
If someone is unconscious, not breathing, seizing/convulsing, bleeding profusely, difficult to arouse/wake up, etc. call 911 immediately, otherwise call the NJ Poison Experts at (1-800-222-1222). “Don’t waste valuable time looking up information on the Internet when every minute counts. Many of the calls we get are genuine emergencies,” said Dr. Marcus. “Having a poison expert give you exact instructions for your specific situation can help significantly during those critical first few minutes.”
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Help is Just a Phone Call Away!
Remember, calls are free and confidential and help is always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, even during bouts of Mother Nature like Hurricane Sandy. Call 800-222-1222, chat via www.njpies.org, or text in at 8002221222@njpies.org to contact a NJ Poison Expert. Help is available in more than 150 languages.
We are social. Join us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/njpies) and Twitter (@NJPoisonCenter) for breaking news, safety tips, trivia questions, etc. Share what you learn with your family (including children), friends, and coworkers.
Real People. Real Answers.
About NJPIES
As New Jersey’s only poison control center, the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System provides information on poison prevention and treatments. Chartered in 1983, NJPIES provides free consultation through telephone hot line services and the Web. Medical professionals such as physicians, registered nurses and pharmacists offer confidential advice regarding poison
emergencies and provide information on poison prevention, drugs, food poisoning, animal bites and more. These specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
NJPIES coordinates state poison education and research and is designated as the regional poison center by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the American Association of Poison Control Centers. It tracks incidences of adverse reactions to food, drugs and vaccines in order to monitor potential public health issues and provide data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A division of the Department of Preventive
Medicine and Community Health of the New Jersey Medical School of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. NJPIES has a state-of-the-art center located on the school’s Newark campus. NJPIES is funded, in part, by the NJ Department of Health and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
New Jersey residents seeking immediate information about treating poison emergencies, and those with any drug information questions, should call the toll-free hot line, 800-222-1222, any time. The hearing impaired may call 973-926-8008. For more information, visit www.njpies.org or call 973-972-9280.
About Rutgers
Established in 1766, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is America’s eighth oldest institution of higher learning and one of the nation’s premier public research universities. Serving more than 65,000 students on campuses, centers, institutes and other locations throughout the state, Rutgers is the only public university in New Jersey that is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) is the health care education, research, and clinical division of Rutgers University, comprising nine schools and their attendant faculty practices, centers, institutes and clinics; New Jersey’s leading comprehensive cancer care center; and New Jersey's largest behavioral health care network.
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