Page 6 - Indoor Quality 3Roda

Many pollutants are generated inside the building; EPA studies indicate that indoor pollutant levels may
others, such as exhaust from idling school buses be two to five times — and occasionally more than
and parent vehicles, waft indoors through windows, 100 times — higher than outdoor levels. 29
doors, and air intakes. Then there are the countless
pairs of feet transporting dirt or dust from the More than 25 million children, nearly 50% of
outside. America’s students, attend schools that have
not adopted an indoor environmental quality
“Even the best school has its work cut out in keeping management plan, according to the EPA. No doubt
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floors and counters free of all that gets into school these students face an elevated risk of contracting
buildings from the foot traffic alone,” says Mary Ellen illnesses linked to airborne contaminants.
Conley, R.N., a veteran school nurse in Abington,
Massachusetts, and board member of the Asthma Following is a closer look at six of these illnesses, all
and Allergy Foundation of America. 28 known to keep students home from school.

COMMON COLD

The common cold is the main reason children Cold viruses are easily
miss school and adults miss work, according to
the CDC. spread, via a sneeze,
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a cough, or a conversation.
Americans come down with one billion colds a year,
mostly during the fall and winter, due to more time Cold symptoms typically start two or three days
spent indoors and in close quarters. Whereas after a person has been exposed to the virus, and
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adults contract two or three colds per year, on those infected are most contagious for the first three
average, kids get more, as every teacher is no doubt or four days after the start of a sore throat or runny
aware. 33 nose. Though most students recover within a week,
those with asthma or other respiratory conditions
Cold viruses are easily spread, via a sneeze, a cough, can go on to develop a more serious illness, such as
or a conversation. Of course, students also catch bronchitis.
a cold by touching an infected person and then
touching their nose, mouth, or eyes. At school, Containing cold viruses is an uphill battle for
viruses are often transmitted via objects — toys, schools, as the key preventive measures are not high
books, door knobs, drinking-fountain handles — that priorities among 8-year-olds: avoiding close contact
have been previously touched by someone with a with others, coughing and sneezing into tissues, and
cold. washing hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing
your nose.

Preventing the Common Cold

WASH HANDS AFTER
COUGHING, SNEEZING, AVOID CLOSE CONTACT
OR BLOWING YOUR NOSE WITH OTHERS

COUGH AND SNEEZE
INTO TISSUES

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