What's hiding in your basement?

Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. It doesn’t have any odor or taste.  It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Radon can be found in any building including your home, workplace, daycare, and school. It gets in through cracks, gaps around service pipes, cavities inside walls, gaps between floors, and other holes in the foundation and becomes trapped inside. Your greatest risk of radon exposure is your home because that is where you spend the most time. Any home could have the presence of radon including new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Radon tends to be a little more prevalent in western New York (because of the type of rock in that region), however here in Clinton County we are still at moderate risk.

The good news is you can find out if you have radon by testing for it. Radon is colorless and odorless

like carbon monoxide. Testing is the only way to tell if you have radon present in your home. By testing for radon, you will know if you have a build up from over time which can

Radon Test Kit

cause lung cancer. 

So why do we care now? Radon builds up in our buildings and homes as we close things up for the winter to keep the heat in. While we’re keeping the heat in we’re also keeping the radon in. Add in less ventilation and you’ve got a recipe for radon. Keeping our windows and cellars sealed tight from November through March makes it prime time to do radon testing. 

Even if you have tested for radon in the past, you should test for radon every five years. Tests take only a few minutes to set up and complete. If you do not want test yourself, The Healthy Neighborhoods Program in Clinton County can help by setting up radon tests for Clinton County residents free of charge.

How can I get a free radon test kit? Contact the Clinton County Healthy Neighborhoods Program at 518-565-4870 to schedule a home visit. Radon is just one area of indoor air quality and home safety that the Healthy Neighborhoods Program addresses. Free radon test kits and other home safety products are available based upon your household’s needs. For more information about this free service, check out our website www.clintonhealth.org/healthyneighborhoods.

 

Maryann Barto

Public Health Educator

Healthy Neighborhoods Program

Environmental Health & Safety Division

Winter Driving: Avoiding Frost-ration

 

Cold weather is upon us. There are many who LOVE this weather.  Before trudging into the Arctic splendor, those folks make a mental note of what they need in order to enjoy all it has to offer. Coat…check.  Boots…check. Gloves…check. Scarf…check. What about driving in a Winter Wonderland? Have they prepared themselves for what could be a challenging and exciting trek? Is the car ready to go? What if they break down on the trip?

Prepare Your Vehicle

Traveling in the winter weather can be dangerous. Icy roads could put you in a snowbank at 2am with no one around to assist. Cold weather could affect your tires. Following cars could cloud your vision. Your heat could stop working. I could go on, but let us look at some things you should do before driving in the cold weather:

• Service your radiator system or check it with an antifreeze tester. Make sure the system is ready for the cold weather.
• Check your windshield-wiper fluid.  Do you still have the “summertime” mix? Make sure it is ready for winter. There are “wintertime” mixes that can protect as low as -30^oF.
• Check your tires. Is there still tread? If not, replace them. Are they underinflated or almost exactly where they need to be (typically between 30-35psi)? Colder temperatures will make the tire pressure drop.  Make sure they are up to pressure.
• Check your gas. How much is in your tank? Keep your gas tank near full to lessen the chance of ice buildup. 
• Make sure stuff works. When is the last time you pushed / pulled all of the buttons, flipped all the switches, or turned all of the knobs? Check the important ones: 
• Heater. Does it put out heat?  
• Defroster. Does it turn on? Does it defrost the windows? 
• Ignition. Does it work? 
• Emergency flashers. Do they work in the front of the car AND the back?
• Check other items. What other items need to be in good condition to make sure you are safe? Here are a few more: 
• Brakes. When was the last time you had them serviced? 
• Brake fluid. Is there enough fluid (or maybe too much)?  
• Exhaust. Can you smell exhaust on a calm day, when sitting still?  Can you see it coming out from a spot that it should not?  
• Battery. Is there at least 12 Volts (or will it turn over the engine like normal)?

Not only should we keep our vehicle ready for winter driving, we should also think of things to keep inside of that vehicle for emergencies, such as an Emergency Kit. Your kit could be a lifesaver if you get stranded on the road during the winter weather.

Just as rosy cheeks are visible when we shovel snow and fingers and toes can get cold when not wearing the right stuff, if you and your car are not ready for what Old Man Winter throws at you, chaos is what it will be. 

Learn more ways to prepare your family for winter weather by reading our Winter Safety Guide. Visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/news_letters/WinterSafetyGuide2021.pdf to learn more.

 

Mark Lafountain

Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Clinton County Health Department