your school environment an ounce of prevention maryann suero ph.d. us environmental protection...
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Your School Environment
An Ounce of Prevention
Maryann Suero Ph.D.US Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5Regional Team Manager, Children’s
HealthApril 6, 2002
School EMS: The “Ounce of Prevention” Approach
What is a School EMS?
What are the benefits of a school EMS?
What would an EMS for my school look like?
How can my school adopt an EMS?
What is a School Environmental Management
System?
A way to assess and continually improve the environment
Not a SCARY ProcessWork in a stepwise
fashion to address a school environment in an integrated and comprehensive way
Some Benefits of a School EMS
Reduce HAZARDS to students, teachers, staff, visitors in schools
Reduce Liability (reduce insurance costs???)
Increase Environmental Stewardship
Improve Communications
Improve Relationships Parents / AdministrationTeachers / Administration
What Might a School EMS Look Like?
NOT ALL AT ONCE
Develop an environmental policySelf-auditUse a pollution prevention approachTraining / awareness / competenceOn-going evaluation / improvement Improve communicationsOne step at a time!!!!!
Some Elements to Consider in the Self-Audit
Indoor Air Quality Use of Pesticides (inside & outside) Presence of Hazardous Chemicals
In classroomsIn janitor’s closets, boiler rooms, garages
Fire prevention Food safety Radon Spills / Emergency Response plans Diesel bus idling policy Pollution Prevention / Waste Management
Helpful Hints for Building a School EMS
Use Team Approach Pace Yourself Don’t Re-Invent the Wheel Make use of existing resources
IAQ Tools for Schools ProgramSchool IPM ProgramFood Safety ProgramWaste Wise Program
Go with your strengths
How Can My School Adopt an EMS?
Identify people who sense the need
Educate yourselves (great resources available)
Figure out who else needs to be involved
Convince, cajole, coerce them to join
Just Do It !
Resources for Schools
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schoolswww.epa.gov/iaq/schools
Integrated Pest Managementwww.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm
Mercury www.mercury-k12.org/
Resources for Schools (handout)
EPA Resources on CEH
www.epa.gov/children
Tips to Protect Children from Environmental Threats (www.epa.gov/children/whatwe/tips.htm)
Engage Youth in Children's Environmental Health Protection (www.epa.gov/children/whatwe/engage.pdf)
Please feel free to contact me for more information, or to suggest ways we may be able to partner in activities that will have a
positive impact on children’s health
Maryann SueroRegional Team Manager, Children’s
HealthUS Environmental Protection Agency
Region 577 W. Jackson Blvd, T-13J
Chicago, IL 60604(312) 886-9077
suero.maryann@epa.gov
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