Children are more susceptible to environmental threats than adults. With equal exposure, children’s bodies become more heavily concentrated than that of adults due to higher respiratory rates and smaller body sizes. And where do young, developing people spend a large portion of their school-age years? That’s right: at childcare and school. That is why Improving Kids’ Environment works to make school and childcare facilities as healthy as possible.
The EPA has created a voluntary assessment to help you reduce and prevent exposures to common environmental health hazards in your school. Download the EPA’s Healthy Schools Checklist.
Improved Asthma Management at Your School can help in two ways.
First, asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism. In 2008, asthma accounted for an estimated 14.4 million lost days of school among children nationally. Also when a student’s asthma is not under control, it negatively impacts academic performance and limits participation in school activities and sports. Schools with an effective and systematic approach to asthma management have the potential to enable students with asthma to gain and keep control of their disease, resulting in a healthier student body. When asthma is under control, students are ready and able to learn and less likely to miss school. Studies have also shown an increase in academic performance and test scores.
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Enacting a green cleaning program involves using environmentally safe products and procedures to effectively clean in a way that protects health without harming the environment.
There are many reasons to implement a green cleaning program at your school. Here are a few from the Healthy Schools Campaign.
Going green and healthy at your school requires access to green and healthy products and services.
Opting for green and healthy products isn't just good for the environment; it also enhances indoor air quality and reduces exposure to harmful chemicals. Making the shift towards a greener, healthier school environment is a critical step in safeguarding the health of students and staff. By accessing a range of green and healthy products, your school can significantly reduce its environmental footprint while promoting a safer, more sustainable learning environment. Thankfully, numerous third-party organizations have done much of the groundwork, identifying and cataloging eco-friendly and health-conscious products. These resources are now available through searchable databases and cooperative purchasing programs, making it easier than ever to make informed decisions that align with your school's sustainability goals.Ready to transform your school with green and healthy choices? Explore our curated list of resources below of sustainable products and services.
According to U.S. EPA, 20 percent of the U.S. population spend their days in elementary and secondary schools.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is not just a comfort issue; it's a critical health and learning issue. With half of our nation's 115,000 schools report problems linked to indoor air quality, the impact on student health and academic performance cannot be overstated. Young students, who are particularly vulnerable to pollutants due to their developing bodies and the significant amount of time spent indoors, face increased risks from airborne contaminants that can provoke a range of respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems."
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, involves pest prevention and proactive pest management.
By keeping pests out and removing sources of food, water and shelter, fewer pests are encountered and pesticides are used only as a last resort. This proactive approach focuses on long-term prevention and management strategies that are environmentally sensitive and economically beneficial, ensuring that pest control efforts are both sustainable and effective. Read on to discover how IKE's successful implementation of IPM projects in schools across Indiana has set a standard for others to follow, and explore the resources we offer to support these initiatives.
With the high toxicity of lead to children, it is important for schools to find and remove any lead from their buildings.
This means checking paint in buildings or parts of buildings built before 1978 and removing lead-bearing parts from schools’ drinking water systems and service lines. Because this work will take time, schools can install filters certified to remove lead at every tap used for drinking or cooking and begin regular testing of all water outlets to ensure that the remediation steps being taken are effective. Visits the sites below for guidance for schools who want to evaluate their buildings and remedy any hazards found.(more…)read more »
Pesticide exposures can cause problems for children’s health in schools.
Both pests and pesticides have been associated with asthma symptoms in children. Schools may reduce children’s absences from school by reducing pests and pesticides. Join us to create a safe, clean and healthy learning environment for our students.Learn how some schools are using integrated pest management to prevent pests in schools and reduce children’s exposure to pesticides.
Radon is a odorless, colorless, tasteless naturally occurring gas that is found in the soil. It is also mildly radioactive making it a hazard for humans.
Radon finds it way into homes and other structures through openings in the foundation or flooring. If the gas cannot exit the structure, it builds up and then the occupants of the structure are exposed. Long term exposure to radon can cause lung cancer.
Almost one in five schools surveyed had at least one ground-contact room with a radon level at or above the EPA’s action level of 4pCI/L using short term measuring devices. This would indicate that nationwide over 73,000 classrooms have a potential radon problem. The EPA has recommended testing for radon in all schools in the US however most states do not require it. With radon being the second leading cause of lung cancer, testing and subsequently mitigating radon becomes an important task for schools to undertake. Follow the links below to learn about testing for radon and recommended mitigation methods. The source of radon beneath a school does not go away. So whatever fix is chosen for a school it must last the life of the building.
With more than 100,000 Hoosier children in childcare, it is estimated Indiana could reduce emissions by 119 tons each year simply by encouraging parents to turn off vehicles while dropping off and picking up children at daycare.
Smart Schools Don’t Idle program began as a pilot at elementary schools in Marion County, implemented by Improving Kids’ Environment and the City of Indianapolis Knozone program, through a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the “Smart Schools Don’t Idle” program has been implemented statewide and is completely free to participating pre K and K-12 schools.
IKE is interested in enrolling 5-10 schools (K12 included) in Indiana for the 26-27 school year. Interested schools can reach out to Jocelyn Keranen at jkeranen@hecweb.org or via phone at 317.812.1716.
CHILDREN, AIR POLLUTION, AND ASTHMA
According to the World Health Organization, 90% of the world's children breathe toxic air every day. Over time, air pollution increases the risk of asthma, cancers, impaired lung function, and cognitive effects, limiting children’s ability to learn, play, and thrive. Many of these impacts appear later in life, with some lasting a lifetime.
Air pollution emitted from transportation contributes to smog, and to poor air quality, which has negative impacts on the health and welfare of U.S. citizens. Higher levels of air pollution have been linked to increased school absences, hospital visits, and even premature deaths.
Infants, children and teens as a group are more susceptible to the health impacts of air pollution, one of the most prevalent triggers of asthma. Over time, air pollution increases the risk of asthma, cancers, impaired lung function, and cognitive effects, limiting children’s ability to learn, play, and thrive.
School Related Asthma Triggers
On school grounds, idling vehicles include school buses, parents waiting to pick up or drop off children from school or other activities, and delivery vehicles. Often, the pickup/drop-off areas are located near fresh air intakes, so the vehicle exhaust is drawn right into classroom areas. Improving air quality in and around the school buildings will make students and teachers feel better and will help reduce one of the key triggers of asthma.
Buses
Exhaust from buses and other diesel-powered vehicles contains particulate matter, including fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the blood stream, posing serious health problems for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory ailments.
Passenger Vehicles
Gasoline powered vehicles produce significantly less fine particulates than diesel-powered vehicles but still produce nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides and other toxic contaminants, such as benzene.
Children spend most of their waking hours in school, which means that school nurses and teachers are on the front lines in the battle to keep kids healthy.
In order to help school nurses and teachers combat misinformation about children's safety and health, the team at RNtoBSN has created an online guide that includes more than 15 pages of health and safety illustrations and interactive charts, treatment information for ailments from allergies to concussions, strategies for keeping children healthy, basic personal hygiene information.Go to A School Nurse's Guide to Kids' Health and Safetyread more »
