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Healthy School the Whole Year Round
Janelle Sorensen
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
You’ve probably read your fair share of back-to-school articles and blogs by now, but what about after you get your kids packed off with all of their green supplies? What about the rest of the year? Here’s a beginning list of some things you should consider. And remember to watch our blog throughout the school year as we highlight these issues and others in more depth.
1. Safer School Pest and Weed Control
The key to reducing pesticide use is prevention. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a formal program of prevention that is safer, and usually less costly, option for effective pest management in and around schools. Ask your school what they do and if they aren’t using IPM, get them the tools to get started right away.
Resources:
2. Green Cleaning for Schools
Get your school to clean using safer cleaners. Schools nationwide are making the change, proving that it’s an easy and effective step toward creating healthier facilities. It saves schools money, improves staff and student performance, and protects health and the environment.
Resources:
3. Breathe Easy at School
Unhealthy indoor air quality often plagues schools, especially when ventilation is poor and the crowds are big. With asthma on the rise, it’s imperative that schools address indoor air quality.
Resources:
4. Eat Healthy at School
Children need to eat well to be healthy and get the most out of their learning experience. Whether you are packing it at home or relying on what the school provides, make sure your child has nutritious, safe food to nourish his or her young mind.
Resources:
Resources for Related Topics:
- Kids for Saving Earth (eco-curriculum)
- My Healthy School
- School Bus Idling
- Healthy School Resource List
- Eco-Friendly and Budget Friendly Back to School
- Lice Bookmark
Do you have any other resources you’d like to highlight? Any school issues you’d like us to cover? Let us know!
Posted by Marsha Miliman on 09/04 at 04:16 PM
Recent widely published research finding by Dr. Anne Steinemann on the dangerous of undisclosed chemicals in “air fresheners,” detergent, and particularly dryer sheets and fabric softeners, should be summarized on your website. These products seriously endanger the lives of children since many school installs these chemical sprayers in bathroom, offices, and classrooms. And no child should be allowed into a classroom wearing clothing that has been dried in scented fabric softeners and dryer sheets. These pose a serious public health risk to all students and teachers in the classroom. So, if you’re serious about educating families on ways to prevent asthma, allergies, leukemia, cancer, and immune diseases, at home and at school. please include these research findings on your website.
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 09/04 at 06:09 PM
Thanks for mentioning this, Marsha. We have covered the risks posed by air fresheners many times over the years (for instance http://healthychild.org/resources/article/fragrances_in_air_fresheners_and_deodorizers/). We’ve just never discussed their use in schools.
Given the growing population of people with allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities, more public spaces, including schools, are posting signs and instituting fragrance-free policies. We plan on covering school environment issues in more detail throughout the school year and will be sure to examine this issue and potential solutions when we address indoor air quality.
For readers unfamiliar with Dr. Steinemann’s work, there’s a great article about her most recent findings at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371779_toxicfragrance23.html.
Posted by Sommer on 08/29 at 06:35 PM
Wow! What a resourceful post. I will have to link back to this for sure. Thanks Janelle.