St. Louis County to offer free lead screenings for children six months to six years of age

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – On Thursday, Oct. 25th, the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health will be offering free lead screenings to all children six months to six years of age. The service is being funded by a mini-grant from the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative.

“Given the dangers inherent in exposure to lead as a child, I highly encourage everyone eligible for these screenings to take part,” County Executive Steve Stenger said.

The screenings are being offered to coincide with Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which this year runs from Oct. 21st-27th. The annual event aims to help individuals, organizations and state and local governments to work together to reduce childhood exposure to lead.

Thursday’s screenings will be held at the North Central Health Center, 4000 Jennings Station Road, Pine Lawn, MO 63121 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

“We are pleased to offer this set of services to the public,” Acting Director at the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health Spring Schmidt said. “Lead is a critical public health issue and we encourage all County residents to come and learn more about it and how it can affect your family.”

In addition to the lead screenings, families can also bring up to three toys to be tested for lead hazards and families who get lead screenings will be entered to win a raffle.

The lead screenings are being funded by a $5,000 mini-grant awarded to the department by the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. In addition to the screenings, educational materials and lead cleanup kits will be made available to families that participate in the screenings.

For more information about the department’s Healthy Homes program or about the dangers of lead poisoning, please visit: https://www.stlouisco.com/HealthandWellness/EnvironmentalServices/HealthyHomes-LeadPoisoningPreventionProgram

For more information about the Green & Healthy Homes initiative and their role in lead poisoning prevention, please visit: https://www.greenandhealthyhomes.org/ending-lead-poisoning/

Support for this event provided in part by the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization.

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