QUEBEC CITY, Oct. 7, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Few people realize the threats to their health that may be lurking right under their roof: radon, carbon monoxide and toxic mould, to name a few. Seeking to provide information and advice to homeowners and tenants about these risks so that they can better prevent them, CAA-Quebec has launched The Healthy-Home Handbook: Recognizing and Monitoring Residential Risks.
Learning the risks to keep them at bay
Readers of this new guide may be surprised to learn how many seemingly benign items in the home can be dangerous. Bleach, for instance, if accidentally mixed with the ammonia in many window-cleaning products, produces highly toxic fumes, which can even be fatal. These two products must never be used together—especially not in a confined space. Wood smoke presents another type of threat: it contains more than a hundred substances that are harmful to human health. Some wood-burning stoves, if not compliant with regulations, therefore pose a very real risk to their owners.
In short, the dangers outlined in the handbook are numerous and varied, ranging from problems with vermin to worrisome factors like radon, lead, asbestos, the toxins in household cleansers, and even bedbugs.
Available to everyone for a limited time
CAA-Quebec prepares its handbooks for use by its members, but is making this new tool available to all members of the public, as a PDF downloadable from caaquebec.com, until October 26. Ever mindful of safety issues, the organization believes that for everyone's benefit, it makes sense to highlight the links between good health and a healthy home.
"When we talk about health factors, we often emphasize exercise, sleep and nutrition—and they obviously matter," notes Sophie Gagnon, CAA-Quebec's Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs. "At the same time, it's never too late to be concerned about the quality of our household environment and the air we breathe. When it comes to health, our homes and everything in them are more important than we might think."
To maintain or improve quality of life in their immediate surroundings, owners of all types of homes, as well as tenants, are invited to download the guide immediately.
Good health at home: what could be more important?
With autumn settling in, Quebecers will be spending more time indoors, so it's all the more important to pay attention to the risks to their health in their homes. "The Healthy-Home Handbook is divided into 15 illustrated, easy-to-consult sections that provide information crucial to ensuring residents' own health as well as that of everyone living with them—whether they're in a condo, a single-family house or an apartment. By being well informed about everyday contaminants, we can keep a watchful eye on them," Ms. Gagnon concludes.
About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1904, provides automotive, travel, residential and financial services and privileges to its 1,280,000 members.
SOURCE: CAA-Québec
Anne-Sophie Hamel, Communications Advisor and Spokesperson, 514 861-7111, ext. 5478, [email protected]
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