What are the 5 principles of healthy housing?
- Continuous fresh air.
- Proper sealing and insulation.
- Non-toxic materials and products.
- Cleanable surfaces.
- Healthy home habits.
- 1 – Dry. Prevent water from entering your home through leaks in roofing systems. ...
- 2 – Clean. Control the source of dust and contaminants. ...
- 3 – Safe. Store and properly label. ...
- 4 – Well-Ventilated. ...
- 5 – Pest Free. ...
- 6 – Contaminant-Free. ...
- 7 – Well-Maintained. ...
- 8 – Energy Efficient.
Good housing means having a home that is secure, safe, in good repair and free from infestation and mold. A home that doesn't meet these basic criteria has significant consequences for your health, and unfortunately this is a reality for many Torontonians.
This definition makes a good link between the physical nature of the housing and the goal of health. There are four basic requirements for housing: satisfying physiological needs, protection against infections, protection against accidents, and satisfying psychological and social needs.
- adequate privacy for the individual,
- opportunities for normal family life,
- opportunities for normal community life,
- facilities that make possible the performance of household tasks without undue physical and mental fatigue,
Clean homes reduce pest infestation and exposures to contaminants. Exposure to pests such as roaches and rodents can trigger an asthma attack or cause other illnesses. Injuries such as falls, burns and poisonings occur most often in the home, especially with children and seniors.
Inadequate housing is housing that is in poor condition or situated in a high density area: Damp – growth of moulds. Overcrowding – too many people to a room, reduces privacy. Draughty. Unsafe – need repairs, electrical faults.
- The home should be airy and well-ventilated. ...
- The design of the interiors should be ergonomic. ...
- The material used in construction should be of good quality. ...
- The height of the ceilings should be between 10-12 feet.
Learning about home fire prevention, the safe use of gas appliances, swimming pool safety, healthy cleaning practices, and safe storage of toxic products in your home are among the many steps you can take to ensure a safe physical environment.
As such, a healthy community is one in which all residents have access to a quality education, safe and healthy homes, adequate employment, transportation, physical activity, and nutrition, in addition to quality health care. Unhealthy communities lead to chronic disease, such as cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
How housing can affect health?
The quality of housing has major implications for people's health. Poor housing is associated with a wide range of health conditions such as respiratory diseases including asthma, cardiovascular diseases, injuries, mental health and infectious diseases including tuberculosis, influenza and diarrhoea.
