Healthy Homes
Guidelines and Resources

Living environments affect our daily health and long term health in very direct and indirect ways. There are many different types of home environments in Howard County which range from Section 8 rental housing, to independent living facilities for seniors, to single family homes. Regardless of what you may call “home,” maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy home can be beneficial for you, your family, and your health!

Maintaining a Healthy Home will reduce the risks of health effects including respiratory infections, asthma, injuries or burns, allergies, poisonings, and cancer.

There is always room to make your home the healthiest it can be!
Here are 7 key ways you can attain and maintain a Healthy Home:

Keep the home DRY by making sure that there are floor drains, especially in the basement and make sure the roof and flashing are sound, tight, and do not admit water into

Keep the home CLEAN by taking shoes off at the front door. This will prevent excess dirt and dust from entering carpets or floors. Have pets sleep in separate dog/cat beds or on the floor. Reduce clutter in the home, i.e. bags of clothes, boxes of old sports equipment, etc. Avoid using air fresheners; they tend to cover up odors and can cause allergic reactions.

Keep the home PEST-FREE by not leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Reduce food sources, crumbs, and grease. When using pesticides, please look for the EPA Registration Number, wear durable, rubber gloves, and make sure all pesticides are in a child lock area out of reach. Block pest entries from the outside, set up traps, and seal food in pest proof containers such as Tupperware materials.

Keep the home VENTILATED by making sure bathrooms, dryers, kitchen ranges, hot water heaters, and fireplaces have exhaust ventilation. Place Carbon Monoxide alarms and smoke detectors on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. Do not install directly above or beside fuel-burning appliances.

Keep the home SAFE by storing cleaning products in a secure location. Label bottles appropriately. Make sure there are window safety guards, especially for apartments on high floor levels. Make sure all electrical cords are secured and cannot be tripped over.

MAINTAIN the house by taking out trash frequently to trash cans, cleaning all areas of the house including floors, kitchens, bedrooms, organize to avoid clutter, replace a broken ventilation system, replace filter systems, make sure all gutters are cleaned and not clogged.

Click here to download the "Attaining and Maintaing a Healthy Home-Tips and Guidelines for Renters and Homeowner" brochure.

RESOURCES

• For more information about these 7 key principals and other healthy housing resources please visit The National Center for Healthy Housing website Or call 410-992-0712.
• For more information about Healthy Homes read the CDC website here: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyHomes/.

• For more information on how your house affects your health and would like to schedule a well or septic testing, please contact the Bureau of Environmental Health at 410-313-2640 or visit this site and click on Environmental Health.
• Age appropriate information on Healthy Homes for youth, adults, and seniors is available on the Healthy Howard page on this site.
• If you are a senior and would like more information about living facilities in Howard County or would like more information on Universal Design homes, please contact the Office on Aging at 410-313-6542.
• For additional information about aging in place, visit the following Citizen's Services/Office on Aging site.
• For information regarding assistance and support for all persons being considered for community placements, nursing homes or for medical assistance funded personal care, please contact the Adult Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) at the Health Department: 410-313-6541.
• If you would like to purchase radon kits or CO and smoke alarms, please visit your local home improvement store. (cost ranges from $10-$40).
• If you are in need of a smoke alarm and cannot afford one, please contact Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue at 410-313-6040.
• HUD Healthy Homes Guides: (in english)
• HUD Healthy Homes Guides: (en espanol)

Healthy Howard Home