As part of the Radon Action Campaign, the month of November was Radon Action Month across Canada. Led by Health Canada, the New Brunswick Lung Association, the Ontario Lung Association, and Summerhill Impact, the Radon Action Campaign aims to raise awareness about radon and encourages Canadians to take action by testing their homes for radon in order to reduce exposure.

Radon is a radioactive gas and a known carcinogen. It results from the breakdown of uranium in the ground and can enter your home undetected. You can’t see it or taste it. All homes, in all parts of Canada, have some level of radon. The only way to know what the levels are like is to have your home tested.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. It is linked to causing the deaths of 3,200 Canadians every year. Long–term exposure to elevated levels of radon in the home increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Smokers exposed to high levels of radon have a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer.

In order to better equip you to answer questions about radon and the need for at-home testing, McMaster University, together with Health Canada, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and the Clean Air Partnership, have designed a free, certified program to provide reliable, evidence-based information on radon. It only takes one hour to complete – which can be done in one sitting, or multiple sessions. The course is certified by the McMaster University Continuing Health Sciences Program for 1 Mainpro+ credit. It is also an Accredited Group Learning Activity as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Additionally, it is approved by the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists for 1.0 CSRT CE/CPD credit.

For more information about radon, or to access the course, visit radon.machealth.ca.

Post submitted by Jennifer Morin – Nursing Instructor
Post prepared by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor