The 2014 edition of Hazardous Materials Awareness Week in Iowa begins this Sunday and will run until January 25th.

At the recommendation of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and the Iowa Emergency Response Commission, Hazardous Materials Awareness Week is a yearly designation from the office of Governor Terry Branstad.

Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf hopes local residents use the week ahead to remind themselves that hazardous materials and products can cause problems in daily life if you’re not careful.

“All of our household chemicals that we use as cleaners, most all of those have a hazardous material in them to make them work properly.  So that puts us at risk of even a small spill in our home and the possibility of chemicals mixing–that could be dangerous.  And of course we have the ever-present hazard of kids getting ahold of things that they shouldn’t have.”

Kempf says he will be updating his department’s facebook page throughout the week ahead to help promote awareness for its significance, especially in relation to keeping dangerous materials out of the hands of younger children.

To hear more from Kempf as he discusses Hazardous Materials Awareness Week in full detail, tune-in to Monday’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County on K107 during the 9am, noon and 5 o’clock hours.