DPH has extended Care Line hours to provide information on public health department services that may be interrupted and other weather-related information. The Care Line number is 1-855-472-3432 and will be open for calls 24 hours a day beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21, until further notice.
Monday, Oct 21, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 21, 2024
COLUMBIA, S.C. – During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (Oct. 20-26), the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) encourages residents to learn the dangers of lead exposure and how to protect themselves and their families from it. The theme for this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is “Bright futures begin lead-free."
Get the Facts: While lead is a naturally occurring element, exposure to it can cause serious harm to people, especially children. Items such as leaded gasoline and household paint containing lead are no longer sold in the United States, but lead can still be found in everyday environments; it’s most frequently found in plumbing and paint in older homes as well as in contaminated dust and soil. Some toys, especially those that are imported or are antique toys, and toy jewelry may contain lead.
Lead can enter the body through breathing in lead dust, swallowing lead dust that settles on food or food preparation surfaces, drinking water contaminated with lead, or ingesting paint chips, dust, or soil that contains lead.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood exposure to lead can cause long-term harm. Adverse effects of lead exposure include damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems.
“Lead poisoning is preventable,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DPH deputy director of Health Promotion and Services and chief medical officer. “We want to ensure parents and caregivers are educated about the risk of lead exposure and how to best prevent children from encountering lead. Prevention is key, because children with lead poisoning may not have any symptoms.”
Get Your Home Tested: Housing built before 1978, and especially housing built before 1960 may contain lead-based paint. The only way to know is by having the home tested. Assume that the paint has lead unless tests show otherwise. DPH recommends the following steps to prevent lead exposure at home:
Get Your Child Tested: Simple blood tests that check for lead levels are often performed by pediatricians during children’s wellness visits, usually the 12- or 24-month visits. Parents or guardians should talk to their child’s health care provider if they have questions or concerns about their child and lead exposure. Blood tests may be required for adults in occupational settings where there is a potential to be exposed to lead.
Lead test results are reported to DPH. If the blood test detects elevated lead levels, the health care provider will provide guidance to their patient.
Additionally, a DPH nurse will contact the patient (or parent or guardian if the patient is a child) to learn more about how the person might have been exposed to lead. For children under the age of 6 who meet DPH’s referral criteria, a public health nurse will provide education and case management to the family. DPH staff who are certified lead risk assessors may conduct an environmental lead assessment at the home to identify lead hazards. Identified lead hazards can then be remediated.
“Environmental lead assessments are crucial to determine a child’s source of lead exposure,” said ML Tanner, program manager for DPH’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. “Knowledge is power and identification of lead hazards in a home is the first step in protecting a child from further harm.”
To learn more about lead exposure, visit the DPH website or call 1-866-4NO-LEAD (1-866-466-5323).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 21, 2025
Hours extended to help answer individuals’ questions about DPH services related to winter weather.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is expanding the hours of its public information Care Line beginning today. Care Line representatives will be available to answer questions about any DPH public health department services that are interrupted due to winter weather and provide other weather-related information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 16, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a kitten found with wounds of unknown origin near Ashley Creek and Vistaview drives in Elgin, S.C., has tested positive for rabies.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 16, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 14, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. – In observance of Birth Defects Awareness Month in January, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) are encouraging residents to embrace and support the families of children in their communities with birth defects and learn about available services, so that every baby born in South Carolina can meet their full potential.