Charlotte Schools - 10 Ways to Manage Asthma

1. Be Informed: Use the Envirnomental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Kit
   Help students, staff and visitors by improving the school environmentby utilizing practices recommended in the kit. All schools have a copy of Tools For Schools and procedures in place to deal with environmental issues
2. Control Animal Allergens
   Remove classroom animals from the school, if possible.
   If not, locate animals away from sensitive students and ventilation systems.
3. Control Cockroach Allergens
   Use Integrated Pest Management practices to prevent cockroach and other pest problems (e.g., store food in tightly sealed containers and place dumpsters away from the building).
4. Clean Up Mold and Control Moisture
   Fix moisture problems and thoroughly dry wet areas within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
   Clean up moldy hard surfaces with water and detergent, then dry thoroughly. Contact maintenance if the problem is severe.
5. Proper use of HVAC systems
   Many IAQ problems are created from misuse of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. When the unit is turned off, filtration and dilution of classroom air with outside air is prevented. Contaminants and carbon dioxide levels may build up gradually and cause irritation to some individuals.
6. Reduce Dust Mite Exposure
   Make sure school is dusted and vacuumed thoroughly and regularly.
7. Do not open windows during the hot/humid months.
   Opening windows when it is humid out can create a problem in the afternoon when the windows are shut and the AC is on. The AC unit has a hard time taking all of the humidity out of the air, and if the room gets too cool or it s not operating properly can lead to high iumidity or condensation in the room, potentially creating a mold problem.
8. Do not set thermostats below 70* in the summer.
   As mentioned above, if a room is too cold, this can cause condensation on ductwork or on desks/tables leaking to mold growth if it continues over a period of time.
9. Inspect your classroom regularly
   Many times there is a complaint in a classroom the problem can be easily identified.
   Areas under sinks in the classroom are a big problem if there is a leak and it goes undetected, or is not reported to maintenance.
10. Do not use air fresheners/plug-ins etc.
    For various reasons many classrooms may not have the most pleasant odor. Masking agents such as air fresheners do not cure the problem, they only add chemicals and particles into the air that can trigger asthma and allergic responses in some individuals.

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