Free lead poisoning screenings for children

Lords Valley — Wayne Memorial Hospital and other sponsors have teamed up to sponsor free lead-poisoning screenings for children age seven and under. The move was prompted in part by the Fisher Price toy recall. The popular toy manufacturer voluntarily recalled more than one million products, including Elmo and Dora the Explorer toys, after tests determined their surfaces contained excessive levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested. The free screenings will be available in Pike County, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pike County Medical Center, Lords Valley. The testing will be done in a mobile van staffed and run by PinnacleHealth, a Harrisburg health care provider contracted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to perform similar screenings throughout the state. Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the US for the estimated number of children with elevated blood lead levels. Childhood lead poisoning may make learning difficult, interfere with growth, harm hearing and delay development. Anyone seeking more information is encouraged to call 570-253-8422 or 570-253-8990.