# Presentation: 540065

## NATIONAL RADON ACTION MONTH

**Raising Awareness, Reducing Risk, Saving Lives**

## What is Radon?

- Radon
- A naturally occurring, radioactive gas released from rocks, soil, and water
- Can accumulate to dangerous levels inside buildings
- We can’t see, smell, or taste radon
- Can be a problem in any home, school, or building across the country

**Notes:**

Radon gas enters homes and buildings through cracks and openings on the lower levels. Hot spots include basements, first-floor rooms, and garages.
Radon is a serious health risk facing tens of thousands of Americans.
Radon is found all over the United States. No area is free from risk. 

## What is the problem?

- Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers
- Radon causes more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths annually in the United States

**Notes:**
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon causes more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year, and is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers . Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

## What is the solution?

- Test your home or building for radon
- It’s the only way to know if you have a radon problem
- You can fix a radon problem
- Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs

**Notes:**
As an individual –
You can test your own home for radon.  Do-it-yourself test kits are available for purchase on-line or at home improvement stores.  Or you could hire a qualified radon service professional to test for radon in your home.  

Fix your problem. Locate radon mitigators in your area to help determine next steps for your home or building. 

Contact your state radon program to determine whether there are requirements associated with providing radon measurement and or radon mitigations/reductions in your state. Some states maintain lists of contractors available in their state or they have proficiency programs or requirements of their own.  
Contact one or both of the two privately-run national radon programs who are offering proficiency listing/accreditation/certification in radon testing and mitigation.  (Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.) 

	The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)	National Radon Proficiency Program	Toll Free: (800) 269-4174 or (828) 890-4117	Website:    www.neha-nrpp.org/  	
	The National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)	Toll Free: (866) 329-3474 	WebSite:  www.nrsb.org  

## How can you help?

- Raise Radon Awareness!
- Get the message out about the dangers of radon year-round
- Conduct special activities and events in January during National Radon Action Month
- Go to _[www.epa.gov/radon/nram](http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram)_ to learn how you can help.

**Notes:**
Another important action you can take is to encourage others in your community to learn about radon and promote this important public health message.

## January is National Radon Action Month

- Who should participate?_ _
- Individuals, groups, and organizations concerned about lung cancer and public health
- What is the goal?_ _
- Increase public awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation, and advance the use of radon-resistant new construction practices
- Ultimately save lives from radon-induced lung cancer
**Now is the perfect time to get involved!**

**Notes:**
To protect the lives of all Americans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month. 

National Radon Action Month is a time when state and local radon programs, non-profit organizations, the radon industry and others join EPA to ramp up efforts and results.

Radon can be deadly, but the message you are delivering to your community is a hopeful one. Testing for radon and addressing radon risk can save lives.

Our collective efforts during National Radon Action Month will go a long way toward building and maintaining radon outreach successes and risk reduction results throughout the year.

## Last Year’s National Radon Action Month Results

-     [Highlight recent National Radon Action Month results of your choice (e.g., at the national or state/local level, or project-specific) to provide context and set the stage for development of goals for the upcoming National Radon Action Month]

## How To Get Involved in National Radon Action Month

- Set a goal to reduce radon risk in your community
- Plan activities and events in January
- Work with radon partners in your community
- Publicize your activities and recognize your successes
- Collect results from your activities
- Share your project ideas, efforts, and results at www.epa.gov/radon/nram/activities.html.
- Use National Radon Action Month to kick off a broader radon awareness campaign in your community

**Notes:**
National Radon Action Month is the perfect time to build on the efforts of other radon champions in your town, county, state, and across the country. 
Planning activities and events mean you are part of the national effort to save lives from radon exposure. National Radon Action Month activities can range from:
Writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine;
Having your mayor sign a proclamation to declare January as National Radon Action Month;
Organizing a radon poster contest and recognizing the winner;
Coordinating a radon booth at a health fair; and much more!
Use your existing resources to promote your activities – your Web site, newsletters, listservs, etc.  
Reach out to media to help spread your message – ask them to cover your event or other radon topics or ask them to run radon public service announcements (PSAs). PSAs are available for free by visiting www.epapsa.com.
EPA’s National Radon Action Month Web site offers stakeholders the opportunity to see what others are doing. You can share your own ideas and information and read about other activities planned in your area.
The partnerships you form or strengthen, and the activities and events you conduct, around National Radon Action Month can support your year-round radon outreach efforts.

## Engage Different Stakeholders

- State radon programs
- Tribal Nations and Pueblos
- Government agencies
- Non-profit organizations
- Radon testers & mitigators
- Local businesses
- Housing professionals
- Health care professionals

-  	Human resources, 	environmental, and safety 	officers at work sites
-  	Advocacy organizations                	concerned about cancer
-  	Schools
-  	Homeowners’	associations
-  	Other community-based  	groups interested in 	public health

**Notes:**
A wide variety of organizations across many sectors have interests in health and environmental topics. Reach out to different stakeholders in your community and work to establish a coalition.
Each stakeholder may have different ideas for radon activities and events and how to raise awareness in different parts of the community. 
Local government agencies and non-profit organizations support many related issues
Public health
Environment
Public safety
Housing programs
Housing professionals that may need to communicate or be aware of radon issues include
real estate agents 
home inspectors
builders and contractors
Radon test kits can be obtained from some state radon programs, many home improvement and hardware stores, and the National Safety Council.
Also consider contacting radon test kit manufacturers directly.  Your state radon program can provide more information about obtaining test kits in your area.

## National Radon Action Month Success Stories

- [Choose from success stories on:
- www.epa.gov/radon/nram/activities
- Or
- www.epa.gov/radon/nram/archive]

**Notes:**
There are a number of National Radon Action Month success stories to share.  Stories from the most recent National Radon Action Month are available on the Activities page and stories from previous National Radon Action Months are available on the archive page. Or, share a National Radon Action Month success story or idea that you know about but is not on the National Radon Action Month Web site.

## Tools and Resources Available

- National Radon Action Month Web site:
**	**_www.epa.gov/radon/nram_
- Consumer information
- Information for individuals who want to reduce their family’s risk of lung cancer
- Partner information
- A downloadable National Radon Action Month Event Planning Kit
- A national map showing the activities and events you submit
- Regular updates about radon outreach
- Success stories
- Links to additional radon materials and resources

**Notes:**
EPA has developed a variety of tools and resources to help you plan and implement successful outreach activities. You can find all these resources through www.epa.gov/radon/nram. Be sure to check back often for updates and new materials!

The National Radon Action Month Web site has two sections. One section has general consumer information about radon and National Radon Action Month, and the other has information for partners interested in planning activities in support of National Radon Action Month.

## Event Planning Kit

- Available for download from National Radon Action Month Web site
- Resource to help you plan, implement, and evaluate your activities
- Includes many useful templates, tips, and examples
- Radon fact sheets
- Media outreach tips
- Tips for holding a Radon Poster Contest
- Sample press release, op-ed, and letter to the editor
- Sample proclamation
- And more!

**Notes:**
The Event Planning Kit will help you plan and implement a variety of activities and events in your area.

## More Resources

- Newsletters
- Receive the latest updates in your e-mail
- Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
- Free print, radio and television PSAs are available for you to personally deliver to your local media outlets
- Graphics
- Variety of styles so you can customize Web or print materials
- Available in low- and high-resolution

**Notes:**
The National Radon Action Month Newsletter is sent to partners about once a month from Fall through Spring (e.g., September – February). You will find information about the latest updates to the Web site, helpful tips for planning your activities, outreach ideas, and details about what other groups are doing to support National Radon Action Month.  Anyone can sign up to receive the National Radon Action Month Newsletter.  Please forward the Newsletter broadly and encourage others to sign up.

## Sample Timeline: Planning Stage

- Summer – Set Your Goals
- Establish a baseline
- Consider how different activities reach different audiences and contribute to radon risk reduction
- Identify ways to track results
- Fall – Plan Your Activities and Events
- Choose your activities
- Engage key partners and clarify responsibilities
- Establish your timeline and resources needed
- Explore ways to publicize your activities and events
- Submit a brief description of your activities and events to the National Radon Action Month Web site

**Notes:**
Establish a baseline so you know where you are starting before you implement your activities. Contact your state radon program or a local health department to help you collect radon statistics for your community.
Goals should be measurable and include a timeline for achievement. For example: “In January 2009, 500 people will attend our event, resulting in 300 test kit coupons distributed and a return rate of 25%.”
Plan activities that you and your partners can get excited about. Define the audience for your activity and find ways to publicize it to them.
Establish a time line, determine resources you need, and then assign responsibilities or ask for volunteers.
Submit a brief description of your National Radon Action Month activities and events to the EPA Web site.  Your submittal allows EPA to track and showcase activities and events , so all radon stakeholders can see progress and trends from year to year, share success stories, and identify potential partners.

## Sample Timeline: Implementation

- January
- Publicize your activities and events
- Track your results
- Share your success
- Submit a brief description of your activities and events at www.epa.gov/radon/nram/activities.html

**Notes:**
Make sure your target audience knows where and when the event is, how to get there, and what to expect.
All your hard work will pay off. Each event or activity that you undertake will bring you closer to your goal of safeguarding your community’s health.
Measuring your results is an important part of your activity. Use an event log to track data such as number of participants or number of materials distributed, or number of home mitigations.
Record your successes online. EPA is eager to share the results of your successful activities with our nationwide network of radon partners

## Sample Timeline: Evaluation & More

- February - March
- Use your tracking data to evaluate the overall results of your activity
- Share your success with EPA and other radon stakeholders
- Continue working with your community to raise radon awareness
- Promote radon awareness during other special emphasis periods year-round, such as Lung Cancer Awareness Month (November) or Children’s Health Month (October)
- Build on your successes for the next National Radon Action Month!

**Notes:**
Asking yourself questions about the success of your activity is part of measuring your results:
How did my activities contribute to my overall goals?
How can this experience and the data I received help me to improve my program?
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to submit a brief description of your activities and events, and share your results, with EPA. Your information allows EPA to give important exposure to our collective efforts and share ideas throughout the nationwide network of radon partners. 
Together we are helping save lives from radon exposure!

## For More Information

- See the National Radon Action Month Web site and Event Planning Kit at: www.epa.gov/radon/nram
- Contact [provide your name and contact information]
**Together we can save lives from****radon-induced lung cancer!**