Blood lead screening set to begin in August

Panhandle Health District is set to begin its annual free blood lead screening next month.

The screenings will be conducted at Shoshone Medical Center's Community Outreach Center in Pinehurst where all participating children ages 6 months through 6 years old who live within the boundary of Institutional Controls Program (ICP) will be a part of the simple finger prick screening along with a short lead-exposure questionnaire.

Should the blood sample from the simple prick show a lead level of more than five micrograms of lead per deciliter or greater, a blood draw is necessary to confirm.

That blood draw can be done immediately on site and should the results mirror the finger prick results, the recommendation will be that the child’s physician be notified.

Val Wade with PHD understands the trepidation that comes with bringing your child in for screening, but stresses the importance of the screening for the safety of the kids and families.

“The only way to identify if a child has been exposed to lead is to test their blood,” Wade said. “It’s very important to get them tested, especially if they’ve been recreating along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River or playing in an area that hasn’t been remediated.”

PHD will also make an appointment for a home visit to test for and identify the source of the potential contamination.

Wade highlighted that there are many ways that people can be exposed, including a compromised soil barrier.

Heavy metals — contaminated soils are being cleaned up, but people can still come into contact with lead.

Lead exposure can cause severe health problems, especially for young children and pregnant women and lead screenings are not always included in a child’s regular physical.

“This is just a preventative measure,” Wade mentioned. “Just like a regular visit to their pediatrician.”

The free screenings run from Aug. 9-14, and each screened child also receives $40 for their participation.

The ICP boundary is basically all of the towns that run along the South Fork, and its tributaries (ie Canyon Creek and Pine Creek).

To schedule your child’s screening, please call 208-783-0707 to make an appointment.