Live Internet Chat about CHEC
live internet chat with Olivia, Kelly Preston and Dr Jeppson
Olivia CHEC was started by Nancy and Jim Chuda. Tragically at 5 years old their daughter Colette passed away from Wilms Cancer not hereditary cancer. From this tragedy Nancy and Jim decided to make something positive out of their pain, and they started CHEC. And over the years we have evolved into an educational grassroots national by partisan organization, dedicated to protecting children environmental toxins in homes, schools and communities. This past year, CHEC has made it’s educational video for young parents and moms-to-be. There will probably be 4 million new mothers this year alone, to educate them on how to environmentally childproof their homes. The video is called Under My Roof - and it’s available through our website www.checnet.org
Kelly: I just want to add how I got involved. I got involved about 3 years ago when John asked me to be on the board and I have always had a special interest in protecting our children since the birth of our son Jett. At 2 years of age, he was poisoned after we cleaned our carpet professionally, and the fumes from the chemicals broke down his immune system, and he ended up in intensive care. We almost lost him, and from that moment on, I vowed to learn everything I could about toxins and chemicals in the environment and in our homes. And I am very proud to be a member of this organization.
Olivia: And we are very happy to have her.
Mr. Jeppson As a paediatric allergist I treat children with allergies and asthma and it’s clear that environmental factors in the home can cause or aggravate asthma and allergies.
Kelly: There is an alarming statistic indoor dust pollution can cause asthma attacks as can cigarette smoke, dust, mouldy rooms, and chemical fumes. These are all major triggers for the suffocation like episodes, and that the number of children with asthma has virtually doubled since 1980 and even more startling, asthma deaths are up 279%, they have skyrocketed approx 60%.
Olivia: It’s the leading cause of absenteeism in schools.
Kelly: Here are some other shocking facts: Childhood cancer rates have increase almost 20% since 1975. Additionally brain tumors, lymphomas, testicular and ovarian cancers, have jumped a dramatic 33 to 128%, and research has revealed a disturbing link between several of these cancers, and child or parental exposure to solvents and pesticides.
Question: Hi Olivia, I met you on Thursday in Santa Monica I am a mother of 2 and so worried about their future. Is there anything I should be worried about besides lead paint in my older home? I am worried that there is something that I don’t know about.
Olivia: Lead paint would be the main thing, if your home is old, I would have it tested by a professional. Don’t try to scrape any of the lead paint off yourself. I would think that mould would be another problem in an old home. I would have it tested for mould. Also radon test is something that should be done. And test the water. I think ventilating is very important.
Dr. Jeppson: If you have allergies, there are pollen screens you can get you can get them from allergy supply stores either locally or on the internet.
Kelly: And if you are thinking of renovating, renovate safely. Avoid new carpets that can often emit dangerous fumes. But my feeling is, if you must have carpet when I put carpet into my home I got a natural fiber carpet. I cured it outside for 2 weeks. Which allowed the carpet to off-gas outdoors. I then didn’t allow them to install them with the toxic glues. We used Elmers. But usually washable area rugs over wood or vinyl floors are healthier.
Dr. Jeppson:That’s especially important if they have allergies or asthma and live in an area in the country where they have dust mites.
Kelly: And they have dust mites covers for virtually everything.
Dr. Jeppson: But they don’t have them for carpets where dust mites live.
Kelly: Another excellent thing to invest in is the HEPA air filters.
Dr. Jeppson: Especially if you have indoor animals. There should be a HEPA filter in the bedrooms and the family room.
Question Is it hard to take care of your children and husbands, being stars and all you prob. have busy schedules. I am a home maker and find it hard enough to do it with out all the distractions
Olivia: I don’t have a husband ha ha but I do have a 15 year old daughter who is my greatest joy, and taking care of her is my favorite pleasure it’s always a balance whether you work in an office building or do what we do. Many single moms have to juggle.
Kelly: As a mother of two small children, and with a wonderful husband I actually don’t find it that difficult, but like Olivia, it is always a balance. The best way to get video it’s only $9.95 and you can purchase it from checnet.org and we believe it’s perfect for Mother’s Day, buy now! As seen on TV and you too will get a free kiss from Olivia. Haha
Olivia: Yeah, ha ha. We are not trying to frighten people we just want them to have the tools and choices to be able to protect their children at home, and we would like to eventually have a bill passed by Congress for a Right To Know Act so we know what’s in the products we use so commonly at our home. and you can get this information on the website.
Kelly: And we have been conditioned to think, over the years, that that fresh clean smell is something that’s healthy and clean, when in fact it’s actually the smell and the fumes from the chemicals, which may not always be safe for children. And the air in your home can be more toxic then the city air on the freeway. 75% of all your exposure to chemicals are in the home, because we spend 95% of our time in the home.
Olivia So we encourage cleaning with simple basic products such as baking soda (which we can use in a variety of ways) and vinegar and water that’s on the website too under household detective. Because little babies bodies are very vulnerable to chemicals, and they are crawling on the floor and putting their hands in their mouths 50 times an hour
Kelly: My daughter Ella Bleu is saying ba ba blish to the audience and she just blew a kiss. She’s in the video as well, when she was an infant she’s a big girl now she just learned to walk.
Question: Not only am I concerned for my son, but what about our pets? I recently lost my beloved dog to cancer of the liver.
Olivia and Kelly And now on to the pet question…
Olivia: Flea collars can be bad for dogs and all the flea stuff, and pets are close to the floor. You can get rid of fleas with garlic.
Host We want to thank Olivia, Kelly and Dr. Jeppson for joining us tonight. Remember the website address, checnet.org. Get the video. Thank you all.
Olivia: Night all. Thank you.
Kelly: Thank you!
Dr. Jeppson: Thank you all. Good night.