KENTVILLE, NS - With November being Radon Awareness Month, the Lung Association of Nova Scotia is giving away free radon detector kits to residents of Kentville and nine other communities.
The association is giving away 500 radon kits, 50 to residents of each of the 10 communities. The other nine include Glace Bay, Lower Sackville, Fall River, Preston, Digby, Pictou Landing, Oxford, Shelburne and Elmsdale.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Nov. 22, residents of these communities can sign up for one of the free radon detection kits at the Lung Association of Nova Scotia’s website, www.ns.lung.ca. The kits will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We expect kits will go very quickly,” Lung Association of Nova Scotia president and CEO Robert MacDonald said. “This is the third year we’ve been doing a radon detector give-away and previous years have shown this program is very popular.”
Radon is a naturally occurring, cancer-causing gas that enters the home through cracks in foundations, drains and other openings. Although you can’t see, smell or taste radon, it can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and claims 20,000 lives each year.
Testing and making repairs to the home, if needed, can prevent lung cancer due to radon. MacDonald said it’s a simple and important way to help safeguard your family’s health. Testing is inexpensive and test kits are accessible and easy to use.
“Reducing your family’s exposure to radon provides peace of mind, knowing that you’re doing the right thing to help avoid the toll taken by radon-induced lung cancer,” MacDonald said.
The Lung Association recently partnered with the Department of Natural Resources, Health Canada and Nova Scotia public libraries to offer digital radon detectors through libraries across the province.
MacDonald said that, due to the popularity of the library loan program, the association has expedited the next 30 devices and they’ll be available through libraries in the near future.
Detectors can also be purchased through the Lung Association of Nova Scotia’s office in Halifax or through the association’s website.