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EPA and Senator Kitchen Invite North Philadelphia Community to Children’s Health Fair

Release Date: 10/9/2003
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith 215-814-5543

Contact: Bonnie Smith (215) 814-5543
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Philadelphia Department of Health, and other active lead prevention partners are participating in a
Children’s Health Fair being sponsored by Pennsylvania State Senator Shirley Kitchen at the R.W. Brown Community Center, located at 1701 N. 8th Street from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 18.

Parents can get their children’s blood tested for lead poisoning, free of charge.

Environmental and medical specialists will be available to answer questions, and offer workshop discussions on preventing lead poisoning, recognizing and reducing asthma triggers, and safely using household chemicals to reduce childhood poisoning.

The health fair kicks off Lead Awareness Week that begins October 19 and will educate parents and families about the dangers of lead poisoning, asthma, and other childhood health issues and offer prevention methods including lead testing, proper nutrition advice, and home assessments.

“Children’s health is a top priority for EPA, and community awareness about lead poisoning, a preventable disease, asthma, and other health risks associated with the environment is essential to any long-term effort to improve the quality of life for our children,” said
Donald S. Welsh, EPA’s mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

Parents can even sign up for a free environmental home assessment being provided by the National Nursing Centers Consortium. The home assessments will look for a broad range of environmental concerns including lead, asthma, and carbon monoxide.

Partnering with EPA, and the City’s Health Department in the health fair are the National Nursing Centers Consortium, which will recruit families for their Home Safe Program and Lead-Safe Babies Program; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which will provide lead prevention and asthma education; Congresso de Latinos Unidos, which will recruit parents for their free asthma classes; the Philadelphia Urban League which will provide information about its new Lead Education Program, and HOPE Worldwide will provide lead prevention information.

The City of Philadelphia’s official dietician will provide instruction and demonstrations on preparing nutritional meals for children and will discuss the importance of proper nutrition in reducing many childhood diseases.

The community health fair will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 18 with a press conference outside the community center on Franklin Street, kicking-off National Lead Poisoning Awareness Week, October 19 - 26.

Lead poisoning awareness is especially important for Philadelphia parents, because Philadelphia is the fourth city in the nation with the highest number of older housing containing lead paint.

But by having homes and children tested, and taking the necessary steps to reduce exposure to lead - - childhood lead poisoning is preventable!
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For more information about protecting your child from lead poisoning, see EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead or contact the national lead information center at 1-800-424-LEAD. A complete calendar of workshops at the health fair is below:

10:00 a.m. Press Conference with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Children’s Hospital, City of Philadelphia Department of Health, National Nursing Centers Consortium, Congreso de la Unidos, the Philadelphia Urban League, and HOPE Worldwide

10:30 a.m. Workshop for Parents: Reducing Lead Dust in the Home
National Nursing Centers Consortium

11:00 a.m. Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips for Parents: Q & As with
Dr. Carla Campbell, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

11:30 a.m. Knowing Your Children’s Asthma Triggers
Congreso de la Unidos; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

12:00 p.m. Why You Should Have Your Children Tested for Lead Poisoning
City of Philadelphia Department of Health

12:30 p.m. The Importance of Proper Nutrition in Reducing Lead Poisoning
Lorraine Matthews, City of Philadelphia Department of Health

1:00 p.m. What is the Home-Safe Program and How Do I Sign Up for This Free Service?
National Nursing Centers Consortium

1:30 p.m. Keeping Your Children Safe from Household Chemical Poisoning
Edward Cobbs, EPA