What people are saying: School Indoor Air Quality Should be a Top Priority
Public health experts, school administrators and teachers are more focused than ever on the importance of indoor air quality at America’s schools. Schools need to act now to protect their students and staff from COVID as well as other respiratory diseases like the flu, allergens, and airborne contaminants and toxins which can exacerbate asthma and allergies. Here is what the experts have to say.
Indoor air is especially important at schools as poor IAQ can cause health problems and lead to poor student outcomes
The American Lung Association cautions that: “Children face special risks from air pollution because their lungs are growing and because they are so active and breathe in a great deal of air.”
The U.S. Department of Labor also highlights the benefits of clean air: “School IAQ is particularly important as it may affect the health, performance and comfort of school staff and students.”
And as the Director of Harvard University’s Healthy Buildings Program told NPR, it doesn’t matter what age the kids are: “We see benefits in kindergarteners, we see benefits in high school, we see benefits in college students and middle schoolers — every age group.”
Thousands of American schools rely on outdated HVAC equipment
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, “an estimated 41 percent of districts need to update or replace heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in at least half of their schools, representing about 36,000 schools nationwide that need HVAC updates.”
The White House is encouraging schools to fix this problem ASAP
In a plan released on March 17, the White House launched an effort to improve ventilation in buildings – especially schools – to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The plan calls on leaders and building administrators to “assess their indoor air quality and make ventilation and air filtration improvements to help keep occupants safe.”
Teachers’ unions share expert concerns for the wellbeing of students and staff
The American Federation of Teachers emphasizes the importance of clean air in schools – and warns of health issues stemming from ‘Sick Building Syndrome” including “headache, irritation, chronic fatigue, and the inability to concentrate.” The AFT continues that “In most cases, indoor air pollution accounts for these problems.”
The bottom line: schools need to invest in proven IAQ solutions today.
SecureAire’s whole building IAQ solution is the only technology proven in real world studies to remove up to 99% of all contaminants from the air and prevents bacterial and viral infections like COVID. America’s students don’t deserve anything less. Contact us today to get your free estimate.
