Healthy Indoor Air Communication: Planned and Less Planned Approaches

Preventing home-based carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and responding to formaldehyde concerns in FEMA-supplied housing are both indoor air healthy home concerns, but CDC has addressed these situations using different responses. CDC’s response to CO poisoning is based on years of epidemiologic research and field investigations, qualitative and quantitative audience research, message testing, and individual states’ experiences. CDC’s response to air quality issues in FEMA supplied housing did not have the benefit of topic-specific background input but was nevertheless based on sound communication practice and general indoor air quality knowledge. This presentation will explore how these differences influenced the communication responses and offer lessons learned for similar responses in both scenarios.