The City of St. Louis Department of Health offers to following tips for preventing lead poisoning.

With Children

• Wash their hands often.

• Don't let them play in the dirt.

• Watch what they put in their mouths. Nothing dirty or dusty. No paint chips. No cigarette ashes.

• Feed them plenty of green vegetables. The iron in the vegetables helps reduce the harm from lead.

• Have them tested for lead poisoning, especially if you live in an older home.

• Beware of toys made overseas (especially the Orient) where they still use lead-based paint for decoration. Some countries outside of the U.S. also use lead in crayons.

At Home

• Keep painted areas clean of dust and paint chips. Pay close attention to areas around windows and doors.

• Repaint when necessary. Tell landlords immediately about peeling paint.

• If paint is peeling around a window or door, mist the area with water. Then scrape the peeling paint away with a putty knife. Use a lead block paint as a primer, then paint over the lead block with an oil or latex paint.

• Don't try to remove lead paint with sandblasters or scrape dry paint away with sandpaper. Don't do anything that disturbs lead paint and releases lead dust into the air.

• Fill in cracks or holes in walls with patching plaster. Then repaint with two coats of paint. It usually isn't necessary to use lead block paint on walls.

• Fight dust everywhere...but especially where children play. The dust they pick up on their fingers could go into their mouths and give them lead poisoning. Use cleaners with trisodium phosphate to clean floors, toys and around windows.

• To check for lead in your home, toys, foreign-made china, crayons, makeup and other items, purchase "lead check" products sold at most hardware or home improvement stores.

• For more information, call 612-5450 and request the following literature:

• Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference Guide
• Be Alert! Lead Can Hurt! Activity Book
• Greater St. Louis Lead Guide
• Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home
• What Everyone Should Know About Lead Poisoning
• Lead Poisoning and Your Children
• What Your Child's Blood Lead Level Means and How You Can Reduce It
• Lead: Sources are Everywhere
• Children Glow! Go! With Iron-Rich Food
• Good Foods to Help Prevent Lead Poisoning
• Lead Paint Renovation Tips
• Lead Poisoning...Could Your Old House Be Harming You?
• Check for Lead When Remodeling or Renovating