NORWICH – Staff and volunteers for the Chenango County Department of Public Health will stroll the streets of Norwich and different villages throughout the county this summer during the department’s first-ever Lead Walk Project, a door-to-door campaign to educate residents on the hazards of lead poisoning.
The project, set to begin June 5, is a two-fold program designed for mass education and outreach to the community, and the promotion of exercise and a healthier lifestyle, explained Marianne Kirsch, director of patient services for the health department.
The department staff, joined by volunteers, will visit Norwich, as well as Afton, Bainbridge, New Berlin, Oxford, Sherburne, Earlville, Smyrna, South Otselic and Greene, talking with locals and leaving behind door hangers that outline the potentially devastating affects of lead poisoning, along with tips to avoid it; all while tracking the number of homes visited and miles walked along the way.
“As a neighborhood outreach, we thought that it would be best to go door to door,” explained Kirsch. “It’s the best way to let people know that we are a resource and that we’re here to help.”
Lead exposure is an all too familiar concern in the county, she added. According to the public health department, the county receives between 15 and 20 cases of lead poisoning for children up to age 6 on a yearly basis. Many homes built before 1978 contain lead based paint (often under newer paint) which can expose occupants to lead poisoning by way of chipping paint and dust that covers floors and windowsills, contaminating childrens’ hands and toys.
According to the New York State Department of Health, other possible sources of lead poisoning include old keys, old furniture, paint from children’s toys and jewelry, pottery, and tap water. Exposure to even low levels of lead can cause nervous system and kidney damage, learning disabilities, speech and behavior problems, poor muscle coordination and growth, and hearing damage.
The goal of the health walk, according to Director of Environmental Health Isaiah Sutton, is to prevent lead poisoning to area residents before it becomes an alarming issue and needs to be treated.
“We’re seeing a shift in all public health programs from response to prevention,” Sutton explained, citing the importance of being tested for lead poisoning.
“I see this as a critical outreach to communities to let them know we’re here,” he added. “If people are around and have questions, we’ll answer their questions.”
The group begins its campaign in the City of Norwich on June 4, followed by the villages of South Otselic and Smyrna on June 11; villages of Sherburne, Bainbridge, Afton and Earlville beginning June 18; and villages of Oxford, Greene and New Berlin on June 25.