The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes

Podcast Script

Host: Hello and welcome, Acting Surgeon General Steven Galson.

SG: Thank you, it’s a pleasure.

Host: Please tell us; what is the Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes?

SG: The Call to Action describes the steps people can take now to protect themselves from disease, disability, and injury that may result from health hazards in their homes. It also outlines how a comprehensive and coordinated approach to healthy homes will result in the greatest public health impact, reduce health care costs and improve the quality of life of millions of people in the United States.

Host: Why should healthy homes be a national priority now?

SG: Unsafe and unhealthy homes continue to affect the health of millions of people of all income levels, geographic areas, and walks of life in the U.S. For example:

There are 1.2 million homes with lead based paint hazards and young children.
Radon gas above the EPA action level is found in 1 of 15 homes.
Exposure to dampness or mold aggravates asthma and results in $3.5 billion dollars in health care costs each year.
Falls account for 54% of all unintentional injuries in homes.
For children, fire, suffocation, drowning, firearms and poisoning are leading causes of injury deaths at home.

Improving literacy about healthy homes and teaching people about the steps they can take to change unhealthy and unsafe behaviors at home will lead to better health for all Americans. If homes are healthy and safe, asthma attacks can be reduced, we can prevent lead poisoning, deaths in house fires, falls on stairs and from windows, burn and scald injuries, and drowning in bathtubs.

Host: Dr. Galson, if you had to choose the five most important healthy home actions for families and individual homeowners to take, what would they be?

SG:

Install and maintain smoke alarms;
set the hot water heater to less than 120 degrees;
install four-sided pool fencing in homes with pools;
make your home a smoke free zone;
use integrated pest management strategies and;
in homes with young children, control or eliminate lead based paint hazards.

That’s 6.

These steps and more are outlined in the Call to Action. I also recommend people check out CDC’s new healthy home website, which offers tips room by room. The address is cdc.gov/healthyhomes.

Host: Are there specific actions that community organizations, healthcare providers, home industry professionals and the government should take as well?

SG: Yes, these groups are essential to the Call to Action’s strategy. For example:

Organizations can educate at-risk populations about the connection between health and housing, and identify and address home deficiencies.
Healthcare providers can incorporate healthy housing solutions into their protocols. For example providers can cross-train home visit staff to identify and address home deficiencies affecting their clients’ health.
Government can help create homes that are affordable and improve people’s health. Adequate supplies of affordable housing must be made available in order for healthy homes to be achieved.
Home builders can be trained in healthy home construction and building management principles.
Home inspectors can be trained to identify and report on a range of safety and health hazards.

Host: Can you offer any last remarks?

SG: I simply urge everyone from parents and home builders to community leaders and elected officials to embrace the holistic approach to creating healthy homes outlined in the Call to Action. We must work together across communities and the nation to ensure our homes are healthy.

Host: Thank you, Acting Surgeon General Steven Galson