LEWISTON – Holy Cross School’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children were presented a paint bucket containing an Inspector Sealey stuffed toy and information for their parents on home lead safety.

Inspector Sealey was designed by Community Concepts to help spread the message of lead safety by educating teachers, parents, grandparents and child-care providers on the hazards of lead.

In the past few years, more than 2,100 children have been diagnosed with lead poisoning from living, playing, visiting and being cared for in homes that were built before 1978.

Lead poisoning can occur from paint chips, paint dust, improper remodeling or older homes and even from the outside dirt around the homes where children play. Whether a child is severely poisoned or a child receives small doses or lead poisoning for a length of time, both will have lasting effects such as behavioral and learning problems that will impact their future.