The 2010 National Radon Action Month offered a unique opportunity to partner and work with several organizations within our community – all in the hopes of educating and raising awareness about radon-induced lung cancer.
We worked with organizers from CANSAR, Free to Breath as well as the American Lung Association in Jacksonville, Florida to participate in the first annual Free to Breath 5K Run/Walk in the city (November 2009). As a state health department, we grasped the opportunity to provide information about radon and its health effects – as the race served as a fundraiser for lung cancer research and awareness.
The opportunity to engage race participants, their families and other attendees was vast. With an estimated 1,000 participants, we were able to distribute 43 free radon test kits – 21 of which were returned.
Visual outreach and education was also a successful aspect of our 2010 NRAM efforts. Our department had a radon outreach display at the Free to Breath 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk in Ponte Vedra Beach (November 2010), which drew quite the crowd – 900 people. This event offered our department the opportunity to raise awareness about radon-induced lung cancer as well as the importance of testing and mitigating homes, with 29 radon test kits distributed.
Building upon last year’s successes, our department is eager to participate in the 2011 National Radon Action Month. Our department has started planning activities and events geared towards educating our state about the risks associated with radon. To read more about our program, visit http:\\radon.doh.state.fl.us.
Jorge Laguna, Florida Department of Health
United States