Lead Paint Awareness: Keeping Your Home Safe in the Big Apple

February 15, 2024 by

Hey, just a heads up about the not-so-cool side of lead paint on window sills in New York. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lead poisoning is a big deal, especially for kiddos – it’s actually the top environmental threat to their health.

What the Stats Say!

The stats say that around 4.4% of kids aged 1-5 have lead levels in their blood that go beyond what’s considered safe. Yikes! Most of these kids get exposed at home, and if you’re renting, controlling that exposure is a bit trickier. A lot of NYC apartments are on the older side. Even though they banned lead-based paint in 1960, those older buildings might still have layers of it.

A Little Bit of History and Some Tips!

Lead paint was the go-to for kitchen and bathroom walls, as well as doors, windows, and wooden trim. But here’s the thing – unless you’ve had your place tested, you won’t know if that old paint has lead in it. So, before moving in, ask your landlord if they’ve ever tested for lead. Consider bringing it up during the walk-through or rental application process. If they have, ask to see the results. Just a heads up, though, in New York State, landlords aren’t required to test for lead or let you do it before you move in.

If you’re wondering about lead paint poisoning symptoms, it usually happens when kids put stuff with lead in their mouths – like chewing on a window sill. The symptoms vary but can include abdominal pain, irritability, fatigue, and a bunch of other not-so-fun things.

DIY Lead-Safe Measures: Your Home, Your Rules!

If you’re a DIY enthusiast or just want to take extra precautions, there are simple steps you can take to make your space lead-safe. Regularly clean surfaces, especially those within reach of curious little hands, using lead-specific cleaning products. Additionally, consider applying a fresh layer of lead-free paint to window sills and areas prone to wear and tear. Remember, staying informed and proactive is key to creating a safe and healthy living environment for you and your loved ones in the city that never sleeps!

Oh, and if you’re in NYC and living in a building with three or more apartments, there’s this form you’re supposed to fill out every year by February 15. It’s a city law thing – click the link for more info. Stay safe out there!

» https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/lead-poisoning-parents-and-tenants.page 

For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Sources:

https://ag.ny.gov/publications/preventing-lead-paint-poisoning

http://www.healthline.com/health/lead-poisoning#Symptoms4

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml

 

Filed Under: Safety Tips Tagged With: , ,

Protect Your Child From Lead Poisoning

May 24, 2018 by

Child HOliday and Year Round SAfety TipsAccording to Business Insider, between 1976 and 1980, 77.8% of American children had elevated lead levels in their bloodstreams. In 1991, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called lead the “number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States,” and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended every American child be screened for lead in their bloodstreams. Thankfully lead poisoning is far less common today but it is still a concern, especially in children.

Most lead-poisoned children have been exposed in their own homes. If you rent your apartment or home, controlling your family’s exposure to lead is more difficult to control. Many New York City apartments are older dwellings and even though lead-based paint has been banned for residential use since 1960 older buildings contain old layers of lead paint. Lead paint was typically used on kitchen and bathroom walls and throughout homes on doors, windows, and wooden trim. Unless tested you can’t be sure if it was used in your home or apartment. Before you move in, ask the landlord if the paint has ever been tested for lead. If it has, ask to see the results. However, landlords in New York State are not required to test paint for lead, nor are they required to allow a prospective tenant to test paint for lead before renting.

LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS:

The most common way children get exposed to lead is by mouth. They may chew on a windowsill or other area that contains lead. Symptoms of lead poisoning vary. They may affect one area or many parts of the body. Typically, lead poisoning builds up slowly after many small exposures to lead. Lead toxicity is rare after a single exposure or ingestion of lead. Signs of repeated lead exposure include:

  • Abdominal pain, cramps
  • Aggressive behavior, irritability, fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Loss of developmental skills
  • Loss of appetite
  • High blood pressure
  • Anemia
  • Kidney problems
  • Numbness or tingling in the extremities
  • Memory loss

NYC LEAD PAINT NOTICE:

New York City law requires that tenants living in buildings with 3 or more apartments complete the attached form and return it to their landlord before February 15, each year. If you do not return this form, your landlord is required to visit your apartment to determine if children live in your apartment. This form also applies to dwellings built from 1960 – 1978 if the landlord knows lead paint was used. To download the form, click HERE.

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips Tagged With: , ,

Know the Dangers of Lead Paint on Window Sills in New York

November 21, 2015 by

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lead poisoning is “the number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States.” In their most recent survey, approximately 4.4% of all children aged 1-5 have levels of lead in their blood that equal or exceed the threshold level of concern established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And while these numbers are down from just a few years ago, lead exposure is a great concern.

Most lead-poisoned children have been exposed in their own homes. If you rent your apartment or home, controlling your family’s exposure to lead is more difficult to control. Many New York City apartments are older dwellings and even though lead-based paint has been banned for residential use since 1960 older buildings contain old layers of lead paint.  Lead paint was typically used on kitchen and bathroom walls and throughout homes on doors, windows, and wooden trim. Unless tested you can’t be sure if it was used in your home or apartment. Before you move in, ask the landlord if the paint has ever been tested for lead. If it has, ask to see the results. However, landlords in New York State are not required to test paint for lead, nor are they required to allow a prospective tenant to test paint for lead before renting.

Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

The most common way children get exposed to lead is by mouth. They may chew on a window sill or other area that contains lead.  Symptoms of lead poisoning vary. They may affect one area or many parts of the body. Typically, lead poisoning builds up slowly after many small exposures to lead.

Lead toxicity is rare after a single exposure or ingestion of lead.

Signs of repeated lead exposure include:

  • Abdominal pain, cramps
  • Aggressive behavior, irritability, fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Loss of developmental skills
  • Loss of appetite
  • High blood pressure, anemia. Kidney problems
  • Numbness or tingling in the extremities
  • Memory loss

NYC Lead Paint Notice

New York City law requires that tenants living in buildings with 3 or more apartments complete the attached form and return it to their landlord before February 15, each year. If you do not return this form, your landlord is required to visit your apartment to determine if children live in your apartment.  This form also applies to dwellings built from 1960 – 1978 if the landlord knows lead paint was used.

Please see below for the form or click on the link below-

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/lead/lead-annual-notice.pdf

Sentry Window Guards is the leader in home and business safety. Contact us today to learn more about our window guard products, our experience and leadership in understanding NYC requirements and how we can assist you.

Sources

http://www.ag.ny.gov/environmental/lead/lead-paint-hazards

http://www.healthline.com/health/lead-poisoning#Symptoms4

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml

NYC Health Lead Poisoning and Window Falls

Filed Under: Child Safety, Falls From Windows Tagged With: , , ,