November 16th, 2015
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Regina, November 16, 2015-- November is Radon Action Month. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It is a radioactive gas from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground. You can't see, taste or smell radon. It gets into homes and buildings undetected through cracks in the foundation or gaps around pipes. The only way to know how much radon is in your home or building is to test for it.
Stakeholders from different sectors such as NGOs, charities, health partners, radon professionals, government, home builders, academics and retailers have come together to form the Take Action on Radon Saskatchewan Coalition. The purpose of the coalition is to come together united as one voice to educate the public about radon, and to encourage all residents of our great province to test their homes and work places for this radioactive gas.
"We often don't think about our lungs until something takes our breath away. Lung cancer kills more people than breast, ovarian, colon and prostate cancer combined. Radon specifically is estimated to account for 16% of those deaths. Through this partnership we hope to reduce lung cancer and ultimately save lives," says Jill Hubick, Registered Nurse from The Lung Association of Saskatchewan.
The evening will feature keynote speaker Sandy Hutchison from Health Canada and Frank Kirkpatrick, a Certified Radon Professional. Special guest Don Narcisse, CFL Hall of Famer and Lung Ambassador will also be in attendance. This event is open to all members of the public and there is no cost to attend. A limited number of free radon test kits ($50 value) will be available. Refreshments will be provided.
Health Canada recommends testing for a minimum of three months starting in the fall, when windows and doors typically remain closed. The Canadian Guideline for Radon in Indoor Air is 200 Becquerels per cubic metre. While it is strongly recommended that Canadians fix their home if their levels of radon is at or over the guideline, there is no completely safe level of radon and home owners are encouraged to reduce radon levels as low as possible.
It is easy to measure the radon level in your home or workplace and easy to fix if you have a problem. Frank Kirkpatrick, Certified Radon Professional from Master Radon doesn't want people to fear testing or repairing their homes. He says, "radon repair (mitigation) insures that you have done your best to protect yourself, your loved ones and even your pets, from radon."
To find out more about the free radon awareness night, where you can purchase a radon test kit or to find a certified radon professional visit www.takeactiononradon.ca
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Contact:
Jill Hubick,
Registered Nurse
The Lung Association of Saskatchewan
(306) 343-9511
Frank Kirkpatrick,
Certified Radon Measurement and Mitigation
Master Radon
(306) 552-6773
