Another preventative measure includes cleaning, which helps reduce exposure to lead dust. Here are some helpful practices when cleaning your home in consideration of lead: 1. Frequently clean surfaces with a wet mop or cloth and vacuum with a HEPA Vacuum and HEPA filter 2. Wash hands and toys especially before eating and sleeping 3. Use paper towels with soap and water to remove lead from surfaces 4. Wash lead-exposed clothes separately Resources and Support The Hawai‘i Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program highlights everything you need to know about lead poisoning and where you can go if you have further questions. They offer an online questionnaire on lead safety and they provide a phone number for you to call or text when seeking help. Their website also includes printable, educational materials on the prevention of lead poisoning for your keiki. For more hands-on learning, the program has a printable coloring book, a digital book, and free board books that you can read to your keiki so that they too know how to keep themselves safe and have fun at the same time. The Hi‘ilei Developmental Screening Program is a free resource for children up to five years old. The program provides a developmental screening that looks at how your keiki is developing compared to others their age. The program’s screening could catch symptoms of possible lead poisoning in your keiki. A nonprofit, the Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network, released a report in 2020, the Hawai‘i Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, discussing the health threats of lead poisoning and recommendations for improvement in Hawai‘i. The report is dig116 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2025 Clean to eliminate dust, potentially carrying lead particles. “Another preventative measure includes cleaning, which helps reduce exposure to lead dust.”
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