January is National Radon Action Month and the West Central District Health Department is urging residents to get their homes tested.

Radon is a naturally occurring invisible gas that is released into the air from uranium deep in the soil.  The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has identified radon emissions in Nebraska as the third highest in the United States because of the high level of uranium in the soil.

Radon can pose serious health risks to you and your family.  You can’t see, smell or taste it, but radon could be present at dangerous level in your home.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers in America and leads to about 20,000 deaths each year.

The only way to know if your home has dangerous radon levels is to have it tested.

West Central District Health Department has free radon testing kits available to be picked up at their office, 111 North Dewey Street in North Platte.

For more information on radon testing and mitigation, contact the WCDHD at (308) 696-1201 ext. 261, or visit their website, www.wcdhd.org.