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As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment, ” EPA is working with various partners, including schools, to share information, resources and tools about Healthy Schools and the importance of environmental health issues.

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Family/Community Involvement

Health Education

Health Promotion for Staff

Healthy School

Environment

Health Services

Physical Education

Counseling, Psychological and Social Services

Nutrition Services

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The average child and over 6 million adults nationally spend at least nine hours a day and over 1,200 hours each year in

or around a school building.

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EPA’s Healthy Schools Initiative was created to provide accessible resources/tools to prevent and resolve environmental issues in schools.

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Landmark study by William Fisk and Arthur Rosenfeld

A clean building saves money and increases performance!

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Take-away messages:

What gets measured gets controlled or fixed.

You don’t know unless you look.

Find problems before they occur.

Reduce exposures.

Create a plan and build your team. !7

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Evaluate your school building often – it will reveal early warning signals.

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit

Tools for Schools (TfS) Action Kit :http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html

Call 1-800-490-9198 to order TfS kit

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Four key tips for a Healthy School

1. Provide Quality HVAC2. Control Moisture/Mold3. Cleaning and Maintenance4. Pollutant Source Control

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Healthy Schools Tip #1

Provide Quality HVACUse the Ventilation Checklist from the IAQ Tools for

Schools Action Kit

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html

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Healthy Schools Tip #2Control Moisture/Mold

EPA HQ’s Mold website: http://www.epa.gov/mold

The publication "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” is available in HTML and PDF (56 pp., 1.6MB) [EPA 402-K-01-001, reprinted September 2008]

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Develop a Cleaning and Maintenance ProgramPurchase and use low-emitting products and use only

formaldehyde-free materials.

www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/clean_maintenance.html http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/envo_products.html

Healthy Schools Tip #3

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Create a plan for consistent school walkthrough inspections and implement the plan.

Test for radon. Mitigate if necessary.

Check for pests and manage pest control. Use the helpful School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Checklist: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/kit/checklists/ipmcklst.pdf

Inventory and safely manage school chemicals. Use the following helpful resources for school plans:http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/chem_management.html

Implement an aggressive pollutant source control plan

Healthy Schools Tip #4

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Implement comprehensive tobacco-free schools policies.

Establish an anti-idling school bus policy.

Use walk-off mats at building entrances.

Helpful resources for school plans: www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/chem_management.html

Implement an aggressive pollutant source control plan

Healthy Schools Tip #4

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Examples of helpful survey forms used to

assess building concerns

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• Eye irritation• Headache• Sinus congestion• Nose irritation• Skin irritation• Fatigue

• Dry throat• Cough• Sneezing• Shortness of breath• Dizziness • Nausea

Warnings Signals and Common Health Impacts

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Chronic health effects and death

can result from exposures to:Rado

nCarbon

Monoxide

Lead

Asbestos

Tobacco SmokeChemical

s

Biologicals

VOCs17

Stressors That Cause Complaints Thermal discomfort Air pollutants (inside/outside) Odors Excess water/mildew/mold Poor ventilation Lighting and glare Poor acoustics Ergonomic problems Job-related problems

Understanding if the problem is a “building-related” problem

or an individual issue, or both, will help you best define a solution.

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STEP 1 Select an Assessment Coordinator

STEP 2 Complete a scheduled school walk-around assessment – Get constant feedback from staff and students throughout the year

STEP 3 Create an Assessment Plan

STEP 4Set priorities and take action

Remember these 4 EASY Planning STEPS

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No equipment – no problem

Start simple: Clipboard Pen Floor plan Put together a building floor plan (Include roof, basement, outside, grounds,

and all rooms) Create a checklist

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What you don’t monitor or measure – you don’t know!

You don’t know, unless you look.

Identify issues before they turn into problems.

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Save the “science projects” for investigation and diagnosing difficult problems

Measure what YOU can reasonably interpret !!

Temperature and

RH%

Tracer Smoke

CO2

CO

Moisture Meter

Light Meter

Particle Counter

Thermal Imager

If you have some funding – Consider these assessment tools:

Clipboard and

Assessment Checklist

What gets measured gets managed, controlled, fixed:

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Tool Kit items

Tracer smoke detector $ 50 Temperature and Relative Humidity detector $ 75Carbon Dioxide detector $ 450Carbon Monoxide detector $ 350 Thermal Imager $2,500Particle counter $3,500Moisture meter $ 300Light meter $ 30Decibel/noise meter $ 90

Total: ($7,345) or $1,345

( )

If funding is available, consider these tools to help with your assessments:

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o Dry

o Clean and comfortable

o Control pollutants o Deliver adequate ventilation

Key Building Blocks to a Healthy School

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EPA’s Voluntary Guidelines for States: Development and Implementation of a School Environmental Health Program

EPA has created these guidelines to help states establish and sustain environmental health programs for K-12 schools.

Recommendations, case studies and resources are presented to help states build or enhance healthy school programs.

An overview of the guidelines, as well as links to additional information and resources, is available online.

For more information on the Voluntary Guidelines:http://www.epa.gov/schools/ehguidelines/

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EPA's “Voluntary School Siting Guidelines”

These guidelines can help local school districts (local education agencies or LEAs) and community members evaluate environmental factors to make the best possible school siting decisions.

A website includes an overview for the guidelines, as well as links to resources and additional information:

http://www.epa.gov/schools/siting/

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As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment,” EPA is working with various partners, including schools, to share information, resources and tools about healthy schools and the importance of environmental health issues.

Visit Region 7’s Healthy Schools website:http://www.epa.gov/region7/citizens/schools/index.htm

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Kathleen L. FentonUS EPA Region 7Office of Public AffairsHealthy Schools 11201 Renner BoulevardLenexa, KS  66219913-551-7874 (office)fenton.kathleen@epa.gov913-551-7066 or 913-551-7872 (fax)1-800-223-0425

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