from Jim Faust, Indoor Environment Program Manager
In preparation for the upcoming Radon Action Month next January, in Idaho, we’re doing the following things now:
1. Sending direct mail postcards to every homeowner in 11 high risk counties giving them the bullet points “FAST FACTS ON RADON” and including information about where to order a reduced price test kit, and how, when and where to test.
2. Preparing a statewide media release to every radio, newspaper and television station in Idaho. This always gets great results- lots of free press coverage and LOTS of interviews.
3. A letter is being sent to every home inspection company in Idaho explaining the radon situation, including some “FAST FACTS ON RADON” and asking them to request a radon test for every home inspection they do.
4. Every local and the state Realtor Association is being sent a letter explaining the radon situation in their local area, using zip code maps, and asking them to test in every real estate transaction. Also, I’m letting them know that we are available for presentations. We’ve already received several speaking requests. (Based on over 15 years of data collection, we’ve developed zip code maps that help residents visualize radon issues in their areas and better understand the when to test and mitigate. The map serves as a helpful explanatory tool in underscoring the need to protect against the preventable risk. Reference the previous blog post Idaho Indoor Environment Program: Interview with Jim Faust, Program Manager, May 5, 2014, http://www.radonleaders.org/node/20890)
5. I will meet with the president of the state building code officials to present the radon situation in Idaho using zip code maps as illustrations and letting them know what they can do to help.
6. I will be meeting with the president of the state general contractors and builders association to explain the radon issues in Idaho, radon resistant new construction (RRNC) techniques to use in high risk areas, testing and what they can do help.
7. We are using social media marketing, mainly Twitter and Facebook, to get the word out about radon issues in Idaho, including FAQ’s about radon and requesting people to test and giving them the who, what, when, where, why and how to’s for testing.
8. We will be updating and putting the zip code maps on our website.
With all these outreach activities, we expect to be very busy raising awareness and answering questions for the public in order to reduce exposures to excessive levels of indoor radon gas.
For more information on the Idaho Indoor Environment Program (IEP),
contact:
Jim Faust
Indoor Environment Program Manager
Environmental Health Section
Community & Environmental Health
(208) 334-5717
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website: http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/EnvironmentalHealth/IndoorEnvironment/tabid/181/default.aspx
United States