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Health Hazards in Hiding

10 Things You Can Do Today to Raise a Healthy Child

By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW

While using a sponge to wipe down the counter or scrub the bathtub may seem convenient, reusing a scouring pad or sponge can create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Dr. Gerba's research determined that kitchen sponges or dishcloths were ideal for collecting fecal coliform bacteria from raw meat to fester in the damp, germ-nurturing environment.

Research conducted by The Food and Drug Administration concluded that 50 to 80 percent of all food-borne illnesses originate in the home, and home contamination is blamed for 20 percent of food-poisoning cases. The FDA also reminds consumers that countertops, appliances and faucet handles should be sanitized two or three times a week, and toilets, tubs and showers once a week. Wipe down sinks and drains each day with a disposable or washable rag and cleanser containing chlorine bleach to knock out 99.9 percent of fecal organisms and the food-borne pathogens that cause 6.5 million cases of gastroenteritis and 9,000 deaths per year.

Use separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables to avoid transferring germs from one to the other. Throw cutting boards, kitchen sponges and dishcloths in the dishwasher or washing machine after use or soak them for five minutes in a sink full of water containing a cup of bleach.

Check the batteries in all your smoke detectors, make sure you have a certified and working fire extinguisher and check that all poisonous or dangerous items are secured away from your child's reach. Because of the eclectic gathering of items stored in the garage or basement, be sure that all harmful or dangerous items and tools are properly secured and away from the reach of children.

This is a lesson that Norine Nowak painfully learned. "When he was 5 years old, we had to rush my son to the emergency room to receive 17 stitches near his temple from a thatching rake that fell on him while he was trying to dislodge his bicycle," says the Arlington, Ill., mom. Secure fasteners and hooks can prevent accidents or injuries in areas where children play around tools and equipment.

Want to see more?

• Creating the Home Medical Kit
• 20 Questions: What to Ask Your Pediatrician
• Toxic Mold: One Family's Story
• Talk about it!

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