Since January is National Radon Action Month, we wanted to dedicate an entire blog post to this topic. Our hope is to educate you on ways to keep you and your loved ones safe from this serious health risk that, sadly, is responsible for more than 20,000 American deaths each year. What is radon you ask? Well that is a great place to start! Radon, which seeps up from the ground and dissolves into the air, is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas that can prove to be very harmful when exposed to large quantities. As one of the leading causes of lung cancer deaths in America amongst nonsmokers, it is important to be educated on the ways to detect radon and fully understand the steps you can take to ensure the safety of your home from this harmful substance. We have listed a few actions for you to take below, and hope you take a few minutes to review this crucial information. 

-The first (and most obvious) action you can take is to test your home. The U.S. Surgeon General, as well as the EPA, have advised that all homes in the United State be tested for radon, and luckily the testing is relatively simple and reasonably priced. Here is a link to obtain your test kit and learn more about the testing process in your home. 

-Second, if you are in the market to purchase a home, make sure you are buying a radon-resistant home by finding builders who use radon-resistant new construction. 

-Third, stay up to date on local radon events happening around your community. Especially in the month of January when the topic is at the forefront of many discussions, it will be much easier to find events to attend in the coming weeks/days. 

-The forth step is to spread the word! As we stated above, we can’t smell, see or taste radon, which presents a large challenge because a normal person cannot detect the substance without testing for it. Spread the message to your family, friends and neighbors and let them know not only about the harmful effects of radon, but also the steps in which they can protect themselves and their loved ones.