Every year to boost awareness about the dangers of radon, the Kansas State University National Radon Program Services sponsors a National Radon Poster Contest. All students currently enrolled in a public, private, territorial, tribal, Department of Defense or home school can enter. In addition, children who are part of a sponsored club such as an art, computer, science, scouting organization or 4-H club may also enter.
What Is the National Radon Poster Contest?
The goal is for students to create an engaging, appealing and informative poster on one of several topics that pertain to the dangers of radon. If you’d like your student to enter, and you want to know what topics apply, here’s a quick list:
- What is radon?
- Where does radon come from?
- How does radon get into our homes?
- Radon can cause lung cancer.
- Radon statistics and information.
- Test your home for radon.
Sunny of Morganville, NJ (age 11)
Judges will grade the posters on the following standards: content accuracy, visual communication of topic, reproducibility and originality.
Winners of the National Radon Poster Contest will not only be recognized in their home area, their posters will be reproduced on a mass scale and distributed across the country in an effort to boost radon awareness. Winners – and a runner-up – will be chosen from each state and U.S. territory.
National winners receive a fair share of awards, including a personalized plaque and gift cards in the following amounts: $1,000 for first place, $600 for second, $400 for third and $400 for special online voting recognition.
The contest closes on October 31, 2014 so get those entries in as soon as possible. You can enter by submitting your poster and information online at the National Radon Program Services website.
Where to Find Usable Information for the National Radon Poster Contest
Information about the dangers of radon, associated symptoms, testing and mitigation processes and more can be found on this site. We strongly urge not only students participating in the contest, but also their families to read up on radon. Many have no idea that it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is responsible for the deaths of more than 21,000 Americans every year.
The unfortunate part is that it can easily be prevented if you have your home tested. Tests are pretty cheap – and easy to conduct – if you do them yourself. If you’re wary about it you can always hire a certified radon contractor to test your home, as well.
There’s no reason why there should be so many lives taken by this deadly gas. The dangers of radon need to be passed around – to friends, family and colleagues. However, we can start by educating our children, and getting them involved in something like the National Radon Poster Contest.
Via: PA DEP
