Reports issued by the U.S. National Library of Medicine show that more than 20 million Americans suffer with asthma. Asthma in children accounts for almost half of the total, amounting to about 9 million affected children. Schools recognize this issue and often take proactive measures to educate teachers, students, and staff on the condition, as well as ways to help minimize respiratory irritation. Clean ventilation systems, regular cleaning/maintenance, and fully laundered commercial floor mats are among the most effective tools to help schools minimize the risk of asthma attack.
Tips for Improving IAQ in Schools
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the most common things that cause asthma include:
- Airborne allergens
- Irritants (smoke, pollution, cigarettes)
- Fluctuations in weather (particularly cold air)
- Aerobic and anaerobic exercise
- Infections
The first 3 causes of asthma— allergens, irritants, and weather— are issues that can be mitigated with the right kinds of commercial mats and maintenance protocols.
IAQ, School Cleanliness, and Asthma
According to an article published by the Healthy Facilities Institute, additional factors that play a role in asthma attacks among school children include the following:
Ventilation: One of the biggest causes of poor IAQ is lack of ventilation. To prevent poor ventilation from worsening symptoms and risks among asthmatic children, be sure to proactively clean, maintain, and even upgrade ventilation systems when appropriate.
Moisture and mold: In both schools and workplaces, mold can cause serious respiratory irritation that only worsens existing asthma symptoms. For more information, visit our article Mold Prevention 101.
Dust: Allergens and other toxins frequently accumulate on table tops, desks, shelves, and other fixtures. These allergens have been known to irritate the lungs. To reduce the incidence of dust-related irritation, employ maintenance personnel to clean these areas regularly.
Best Mats for Schools
Commercial floor mats help to improve IAQ in schools by controlling moisture, preventing mold, and containing debris before it has the change to become airborne.
Read more about the 5 Essential Safety Mats for Schools. To learn more about floor mat selection, installation, and cleaning, school administrators and safety consultants are invited to contact Eagle Mat Client Services at 1-877-333-1018.
