Should Your Child be Screened for Lead Poisoning?

The March Traveling City Hall meeting will call attention to the need to screen children for lead poisoning. The meeting will be held tomorrow, March 26, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 2227 W. Michigan St., from 5:30-7 p.m.

The number of children screened for lead poisoning has dropped dramatically, according to Dwayne Caldwell, Environmental Health Supervisor for the Vanderburgh County Health Department. He said Vanderburgh County Health Department records indicate there are approximately 14,000 children under age six in Vanderburgh County but only around 2,000 have been screened for lead poisoning. That is a concern because long-term exposure to lead can lead to IQ loss, behavioral problems and nerve damage.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will open the March Traveling City Hall meeting and Caldwell will explain the dangers of long-term lead exposure and the importance of screening children for lead poisoning. Following the presentation, the public is encouraged to talk one-on-one with the Mayor and public officials about issues involving local government.

The next Traveling City Hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 30, at Fairlawn Elementary School, 2012 S. Alvord Blvd., from 6:30-8 p.m. The meeting, in partnership with the Eastview Neighborhood Association, will feature a presentation by Crisis Cleaning, an Indiana company specializing in drug lab decontamination.