According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 8.4% of children (6.2 million) in the United States have asthma, a debilitating condition that can be caused or complicated by indoor environmental conditions often directly connected to cleaning and cleanliness.
Asthma and the Importance of Cleaning for Health
Indoor air quality is one of the critical factors related to happy, healthy, and productive schools and offices and can be affected by several points of origin, including:
- Outdoor air pollution.
- Indoor air flow.
- Dust, and;
- Cleaning products.
The challenges faced are not solely the domain of children.
[...] children can be affected by poor environmental conditions that could worsen asthma and cause discomfort during the school day.
Poor environmental health in the school can also affect adults with asthma and can trigger their symptoms as well.
Schools can contain numerous sources of potential irritants and asthma triggers that can impact students and staff.
Knowing how to properly manage asthma and how to maintain an environment that limits irritants and triggers are effective ways to improve learning and working conditions.
In fact, according to the CDC;
The number of adults aged 18 and over who currently have asthma is approximately 19.9 million, or 8.1% of the population.
Combined with the number of children with asthma, this leads to an annual death toll of 3,518 people or 1.1% of the population.
Source:
How Cleaning for Health can Combat Asthma and Other Issues
Conventional commercial cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can irritate respiratory issues, or lead to asthma-like symptoms, as well as sick building syndrome in otherwise healthy children and adults.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
The chemicals found in some cleaning products can cause health problems, including headaches and eye, nose and throat irritation.
If products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), adverse health effects can include asthma, upper respiratory irritation, fatigue, nasal congestion, nausea and dizziness.
Cleaning for health, more commonly referred to as green cleaning, can reduce or eliminate many of the chemical triggers and VOCs that can lead to asthma and other health issues when combined with regular, thorough custodial services.
How to Implement a Clean for Health First Initiative
Schools are crowded and often suffer from issues far exceeding most businesses when it comes to cleaning requirements.
Schools are four times as densely occupied as commercial office spaces and children are not known for neatness.
Constant foot traffic stirs up dust and tracks in mud, dust, and debris.
Some over-crowded schools have adopted split sessions, some provide breakfasts, after school programs, sports activities, and summer school sessions.
The combination of dense occupancy, more than full-time use, lack of storage space for instructional materials or student projects, back-logged school building repairs, materials or furnishings that collect dirt or require special cleaning, and maintenance staff cut-backs can easily overwhelm facility directors and custodial staff.
What You Need to Know to Start a Cleaning for Healthy Schools Program
A clean school can reduce student absenteeism, a plague on the U.S. education system that deprives children of much-needed face time in classrooms with educators that results in low grades, poor test performance, and reduced expectations regarding future quality of life.
One of the first lines of defense against the ever-present onslaught of dirt, dust, and germs in the classroom is the teacher, who should:
- Assist custodial staff by maintaining clear walkways, keeping them free of debris and clutter commonly associated with classroom use.
- Avoid bringing consumer-grade cleaning products from home, and instead requesting diluted green cleaning products from the custodial staff or outsourced provider, and;
- Discontinue the use of any aerosols and scented air fresheners and ask the facilities team to please open windows or increase the airflow into the classroom.
Additionally, custodial teams, facilities managers, and school administrators should:
- Assess current cleaning products for toxicity by reading labels and analyzing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
- Replace toxic cleaning products with certified green alternatives, and;
- Schedule and participate in routine custodial and staff training sessions to ensure all areas of the school are adequately attended to in a manner that benefits students and teachers.
References & Resources
- Green Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit
- Overview of Routine Cleaning and Maintenance for a Healthy School Environment
Takeaway
Green cleaning/cleaning for health initiatives are a vital component of a healthy and productive school system that is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of its occupants, especially vulnerable young children.
Navigating the world of commercial green cleaning, including all the various technologies, can be complicated, time-consuming, and appear cost-prohibitive.
Outsourcing to an experienced provider with a proven track record of success is a proven method for quickly onboarding these beneficial programs.
Contact us today and discover why Vanguard Cleaning Systems® is the Standard of Clean® for businesses throughout Northwest Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, dial 918-960-4450
In Arkansas, dial 479-717-2410
In Missouri, dial 417-812-9777
