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July, 2003
For Immediate Release
Helping Children Breathe Easier
New moms in Ontario will now receive a free guide to better indoor air quality
London, ON - This year, Canadian children will be admitted to hospitals for treatment
of asthma more often than for any other illness or accident. One in every five Canadians, that’s over six
million people, has a respiratory problem. This year, over 38,000 of those afflicted, will die. These are
startling statistics-but statistics that could decline with improved education on respiratory health.
3M Canada, in partnership with The Lung Association™, has produced an informative
booklet on this subject. Titled Breathe Easier, the booklet will be given to new mothers in hospitals across the
province. Since a child’s respiratory system is still developing, indoor air contaminants can have a much
greater impact on a child’s immature system than on an adult’s.
Consider that we spend 90 percent of our time indoors. Many people assume that this is a good
thing - that we are then avoiding outdoor air pollution. True, but indoor concentrations of some pollutants can be
two to five times higher than outdoors. It’s enough to have everyone holding their breath. You can breathe
easier. There are strategies everyone can follow to improve indoor air quality.
Since asthma is triggered by many factors, eliminating or reducing those triggers found in
the home is not only possible, it’s crucial. Smoke, pet dander, pollen and mould found inside the home are
just some of these contributing factors. According to Health Canada, the two most preventable risk factors for
respiratory disease are smoking (exposure to tobacco smoke) and air quality (indoor and outdoor).
The following are tips that can help create healthier indoor air quality in your home: - Don’t let anyone smoke in your
home. Children who live with smokers inhale many pollutants that are produced from second hand smoke.
- Choose washable toys. To kill dust mites, wash toys often in hot water (at least 130 F)
- Store cleaning, personal care products, pesticides, paint and other household chemicals where kids cannot reach
them. When using these products, always ensure there is proper ventilation. Read labels and look for the least
toxic materials.
- Replace blinds with washable curtains and wash all bedding and drapes at high temperatures weekly. This will
help reduce dust mites.
- Moisture is not your friend. Excess moisture can lead to the formation of mould. Fix leaks in the home and keep
basements and crawl spaces as dry as possible. Run the bathroom exhaust fan to reduce moisture levels.
The Lung Association’s mission is to improve lung health. The tagline for The Lung Association says it
all, “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters”.
For more information on indoor air quality, visit The Lung Association website at
www.on.lung.ca or call the Lung Association at 800-962-2636 for
a copy of Breathe Easier. You can also visit the 3M™ Filtrete™ website at www.filtrete.ca. or call 1-800-3M-HELPS.
Established in 1951 as one of the first international subsidiaries of the global 3M Company,
3M Canada employs more than 1800 people across Canada and had annual sales exceeding $1 billion in 2002.
3M is a $16 billion diversified technology company with leading positions in industrial,
consumer and office, health care, safety, electronics, telecommunications and other markets. The company has
operations in more than 60 countries and serves customers in nearly 200 countries.
The Lung Association is a registered charity that provides information and lung health
services across Ontario through 32 community offices. One of Canada’s most respected voluntary, not-for-profit
health promotion organizations, it focuses on the prevention and control of asthma, chronic lung disease, tobacco
cessation and prevention, air quality and its effect on lung health.
3M and Filtrete are trademarks of 3M. Used under license in Canada.
Contact 3M Canada PR department.
Click here to view the brochure Tips For Creating a Healthier Home for Kids (PDF, 417K)
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