Vermont schools are working to create asthma-friendly learning environments by improving indoor air quality, reducing asthma triggers, and training staff to help students manage their symptoms.
“Asthma can cause missed school days, make it difficult to concentrate, limit play and sports, and just make it harder for kids to learn and enjoy their time at school,” said Julie Arel, the state’s interim health commissioner. “Fortunately, there are steps we can take to ensure a healthy school environment for all our kids, including those with asthma.”
The Vermont Health Department is recognizing 30 schools as “Asthma-Friendly” for 2024-2025 and encouraging all schools to learn more about how they can improve their environment.
More than 30 people were also recognized as Asthma Champions for helping their schools reach medal-level recognition, including nurses, facilities/grounds directors, administrative assistants, and district-level nurse leaders.
Asthma is a serious condition that causes clogging and swelling of the airways, often leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. According to the Vermont Health Department, 61% of children with asthma have uncontrolled asthma and 51% have had an attack in the past year. Vermont’s asthma rates are due in part to the prevalence of older and poorly ventilated buildings, as well as high rates of tobacco use.
The Asthma-friendly Schools Program works with schools to make it easier to support the health of all students. Steps schools can take include:
- Improving air quality on school campuses: Ensure that the school ventilation system is properly cleaned and meets the operating standards recommended by the manufacturer. Operate HVAC systems in occupied mode for at least a week prior to reopening schools while assuring that the outdoor air dampers are open. Encourage staff members to provide additional outside time, as well as open windows when it is safe to do so (such as when there is no risk of falling, noise, or asthma attack triggers). Ensure ventilation systems work properly, and increase circulation of outdoor air.
- Using safer cleaning and disinfecting products: Schools are strongly encouraged to use cleaning products that are fragrance-free, non-toxic, and certified by a third party like Green Seal or EPA’s Safer Choice.
- Ensuring school nurses know the students with asthma—particularly those at higher risk of asthma exacerbations or flare-ups.
- Collecting up-to-date asthma action plans for students.
- Training school staff in asthma management and emergency response.
- Training staff in asthma care standards.
- Enforcing vehicle idling policies.
- Banning tobacco use on school grounds.
Learn more about the asthma-friendly program here.
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