The New England Asthma Regional Council
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The New England Asthma Regional Council
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Healthy Schools Publications OverviewIn a recent "Asthma in Schools" survey conducted by The National Association of School Nurses (download report), according to a national sample of their members, asthma is more disruptive of school routines than any other chronic condition, has a significant impact on absenteeism and many school staff may lack awareness of the causes of an asthma attack. More than half found asthma to be more disruptive to the student body routine than any other chronic health condition, with more than a third of nurses having to respond to an acute asthma attack or episode at least 11 times in the last school year. In some New England states, teachers have one of the highest rates of occupationally-induced asthma. If teachers are becoming asthmatic from school exposures, we can imagine how these same conditions are affecting the children, who are more susceptible to environmental insults. For these reasons, we hope to advance policies, practices and regulations that will promote healthier school indoor air environments as well as that promote environmentally sound “green” building practices. By doing so, we hope to reduce asthma triggers within the school environment. The purpose of ARC ’s Healthy Schools New England committee is to reduce asthma triggers in schools by addressing poor indoor air quality. The key to improved air quality is ensuring the proper design and maintenance of school facilities. Some of our New England states will be working on promoting the “healthy and green” design of schools by adopting the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) standards. Massachusetts has already adapted them to their needs. With schools being as under-funded as they are, many of them tend to defer maintenance to save money in the short run. However, schools pay in the long run when their buildings become dilapidated and health problems begin to emerge. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences published an article entitled, "Prevalence and Implementation of IAQ Programs in U.S. Schools" by Dena Moglia et al. in the July 21, 2005 edition of Environmental Health Perspectives. The investigators determined the extent to which U.S. schools are implementing indoor air quality (IAQ) programs. A questionnaire on IAQ programs and practices was administered to a representative sample of schools and an IAQ Practice Index was developed to determine the level of activity directed toward IAQ in schools. According to the study results, just forty-two percent of schools in the U.S. have an IAQ management program, and there has been sustained growth from 1998-2002 in the number of schools that have such programs. Nearly half of those schools use the EPA's Tools for Schools program. For the full article visit: http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/7881/7881.pdf ARC has developed a number of resources to assist policy makers and school communities with promoting healthier schools. Those resources can be found below. Relevant Action Step ItemsAction Item 5:The Council will support states and federal agency coordination across agencies to have education and technical assistance available to schools in undertaking management activities that improve indoor air and reduce asthma triggers in schools. Action Item 10: The Council will support the creation and dissemination of guidance for the design, renovation and maintenance of asthma safe schools. All new public schools construction should be built to meet indoor air performance standards. The granting of public funds for school renovation should be tied to schools conducting indoor air quality assessments and correcting deficiencies. Committee Membership Chair Members Kim
Cullinane, MA Technology Collaborative ARC Resources for Preventing and Tackling Indoor Air Problems in SchoolsReducing Asthma Triggers in Schools: Recommendations for Effective Policies, Regulations, & Leglisation. Written for ARC by Joan N. Parker, MS, CIH, this document provides concise recommendations for state laws and regulations that will help control and, ideally, prevent indoor air quality problems, with the goal of reducing the occurrence and severity of asthma and other respiratory diseases. Health Considerations When Choosing School Flooring. Written for ARC by Frances Gilmore, MS, this fact sheet and its companion purchasing menu, provides guidance for those charged with procuring school flooring, with attention to impacts on health, costs and the environment. Environmentally Healthy Schools: TIPS FOR TEACHERS (PDF Document). This factsheet should be disseminated to school teachers. It provides them with practical advice on how to support asthma-friendly schools. What's that Smell: Simple Steps to Tackle School Air Problems (PDF Document) Activities in the Region
Environmentally Preferable ProductsGreen Cleaning Network http://www.ahip.org/Audio/EffectiveStrategies/ The Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator http://www.ofee.gov/janitor/index.asp Massachusetts
EPP Procurement Program Purchasing
for Asthma Prevention
Web ResourcesAmerican Federation Teachers Report on School Building Conditions http://www.aft.org/topics/building-conditions/index.htm American Association of School Administrators The Asthma Leadership Project: Building Capacity Among School District Leaders to Address Childhood Asthma http://www.aasa.org/focus/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1951&snItemNumber=1956. Building
Healthy, High Performance Schools: A Review of Selected State and Local
Initiatives Center for Health & Environmental Justice IPM guidelines for schools Poisoned Schools: Invisible Threats, Visible Actions Chemical Management for School Administrators http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pubs/chemmgmt/resourceguide.pdf Collaborative
for High Performance Schools Dampness/Mold has Significant Connection to Asthma Berkeley Lab, EPA Studies Confirm Large Public Health And Economic Impact of Dampness and Mold EPA's
Healthy School Environments Webpage http://www.ehrs.columbia.edu/EPA%20CD/Guidance%20Manual%20for%20K-12%20Schools.pdf Green Cleaning Network http://www.ahip.org/Audio/EffectiveStrategies/ Green Schools Cost-Effective http://www.cap-e.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F9819.pdf Healthier Schools: A Review of State Policies for Improving IAQ (2004) http://elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=56 Healthy High Performance Schools: Developments in State Policy (July 2006) http://www2.eli.org/research/healthyschool/healthyschools.htm Healthy
School Environments Assessment Tool (software) NH’s customized version is available at www.des.state.nh.us/ARD/EHP/HSE How
Asthma Friendly is Your School? Managing
Asthma in Schools - A series of articles Managing Asthma in Schools - What Have we Learned? http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/asthma/josh/ Model School Environmental Asthma Management Plan http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/schools/plan/asthmaplan.htm National
Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities National Institute of Health: School Health Website http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schoolhealth.html School District Liability for Indoor Air Quality Conditions http://www2.eli.org/research/iaq.htm Schoolhouse in the Red http://www.aasa.org/Store/ProductDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=1911 State School Policies to Address Asthma http://www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools/States/State_Policy.asp Summary of Scientific Findings on Adverse Effects of Indoor Environments on Student Health, Academic Performance and Attendance http://www.chps.net/info/iaq_papers/PaperII.1.pdf University of Mass. Environmental Management Service Consulting Program Using
the ADA to promote IPM in Schools |
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Asthma
Regional Council - The Medical Foundation - 622 Washington Street, 2nd
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