So Long, Farewell
I’ve been putting off writing this blog for quite some time now. As I am sure you can tell by my title, this is my last blog for Greenversations. It has been quite the journey, and I am thankful for all of those that have read and commented on my writings. I have been trying to find the perfect way to end this blog, perhaps with the perfect story, perfect anecdote, perfect quote? I don’t know if it’s perfect but I’ll just finish with some final reflections. I came out here to Washington, D.C. from a smaller Midwestern city and have gained quite a lot of experiences. I learned how to navigate the Metro system without getting lost once. I can now honestly say that I know how to read maps. I learned some basic knowledge about how our federal government works. Note the word basic, but much more knowledge than when I came out here. I can probably understand all of the acronyms thrown at me that people in D.C. love to use. Probably. I developed an appreciation for all of the free things Washington has to offer. I can watch Congressional hearings on TV and actually understand what’s going on and enjoy it at the same time. I paid almost five dollars for a cupcake. In doing so, I gained a new appreciation for happy hour prices. I learned that poinsettias are indeed not poisonous. I learned the true value of family and friends. I met some extremely dedicated and passionate people within the Office of Children’s Health. They have taught me more than I can put in this blog. But even though my word limit may be restricted, I will still be able to return with a wealth of knowledge. I did not know very much about children’s environmental health issues before my internship. I’d like to share, for one last time, some tips that you can put to use and/or spread the word to protect and reduce environmental hazards for children.
- One of the best and easiest things to do to improve indoor air quality for children is to not smoke inside the house.
- Keep pesticides and toxic chemicals far out of reach where kids can’t get to them and don’t put them in containers that kids can mistakenly grab for food or drink.
- Test your home for lead paint hazards if it was built before 1978.
- Don’t let kids handle or play with mercury.
- Read more here
I have enjoyed writing for Greenversations and hope you have learned more about children’s environmental health along the way. It’s been fun. I can now say that I’ve written eleven blogs. Cheers.
About the Author: Emily Bruckmann is an intern at the Office of Children’s Health Protection. She is a senior attending Indiana University who will graduate with a degree in public health this spring.