Kids grow and learn better in pollution-free schools &EPA March 2021 EPA Region 10 Healthy Schools Team Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Tribal Nations Find past issues at: https://www.epa.gov/children/healthy-schools-news-pacific-northwest It is a time of transition and planning for many schools. This edition of Healthy Schools News is here to help. It offers practical resources to help you create healthy learning environments for both students and staff You'll find steps for using disinfectants more safely. Links to the latest CDC guidance. Ready-to-go webinars on creating healthy indoor air in schools. Plus, grant and award opportunities, teaching resources, and more. Please share with staff, parents, and networks. Safer Use of Disinfectants Children and students should not apply disinfectants, including disinfectant wipes. Disinfectants are powerful tools for controlling the spread of disease, and they can harm children's health if used or stored incorrectly. Always follow the label directions. Never apply disinfectants to skin or directly to food. Do not mix products unless the label specifically directs the user to do so. 6 Steps for Safe Si Effective Disinfectant Use Step 1: Check that your product is EPA-approved Find the EPA registration number on the product. Then, check to see if it is on EPA's list of approved disinfectants at: epa.gov/tlstn Step 2: Read the directions Follow the product's directions. Check "use sites" and "surface types" to see where you can use the product. Read the "precautionary statements." Step 3: Pre-clean the surface Make sure to wash the surface with soap and water if the directions mention pre-cleaning or if the surface is visibly dirty. Step 4: Follow the contact time You can find the contact time in the directions. The surface should remain wet the whole time to ensure the product is effective. Step 5: Wear gloves and wash your hands For disposable gloves, discard them after each cleaning. For reusable gloves, dedicate a pair to disinfecting COVID-19. Wash your hands after removing the gloves. 1 Step 6: Lock it up Keep lids tightly closed and store out of reach of children. cororiavirus.gov Updated CDC Guidance for Operating Schools and Childcares during COVID-19 ¦ Guidance for schools ¦ Guidance for childcares ¦ New ventilation guidance On Demand Webinars Focus on Healthy Indoor Air in Schools ¦ Meeting Current School Health Challenges and Beyond: New Tools to Assess and Address IAQ Health and Safety - Strategies for improving school HVAC performance and reducing aerosol exposure. Risk reduction approaches to promote effective exposure controls (such as face coverings, outside air, filtration, and portable air cleaners) for a safer return to school. ¦ Indoor Air Quality in K-12 Schools: Addressing the Concept of Layered Risk Amidst COVID-19 - Learn how proper IAQ management can help reduce health risks, including virus transmission, and explore the scientific basis for indoor air quality guidance. Story Map - "Choose Safe Places" Initiative The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education (CSPECE) Initiative reduces children's risk of being exposed to dangerous chemicals where they learn and play. No consistent regulations, policies, or standard practices address how to consider hazardous environmental exposures in early care and education decisions. As a result, childcare licensing requirements often do not consider environmental exposures that can occur due to the facility's location. The CSPECE Story Map highlights the work of ATSDR's state health partners, including efforts to build partnerships, help screen for hazards, conduct training, and ensure ECE licensing includes environmental considerations. The work will continue as partners build capacity, develop and expand programs, and plan for long-term sustainability. Contact: Rhonda Kaetzel, Regional Director, Region 10 ATSDR, rkaetzel@cdc.gov ------- November 2020 Healthy Schools News Page 2 Grant Opportunity: Health, Resilience, Sustainability EPA Region 10 has issued a Request for Applications to improve community health, resilience, and/or sustainability through pollution prevention and/or sustainable materials management. EPA expect to award 2-4 grants totaling about $120,000. Deadline: April 30. Eligible applicants: ¦ Region 10 states, local governments, city or township governments ¦ Independent school district governments ¦ State-controlled institutions of higher education ¦ Non-profit organizations ¦ Community-based grassroots organizations ¦ Federally recognized tribes and intertribal consortia Eco Learning Materials Learning Adventures at Home or at School is a great way to see and access a range of fun enviro education resources from EPA. Spread Health: Share Healthy Schools News With today's changing school environments, the need to stay accurately informed is significant. Healthy Schools News is a helpfulfact filled resource. Feel free to forward this newsletter to colleagues, or add its link to your organization's newsletter or website - https://www.epa.gov/children/healthy-schools- news-pacific-northwest. Anyone wanting to be added to our mailing list can email lindsay.andrea@epa.gov. Thanks for helping to promote children's health in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and tribes within these boundaries. Our hope is to widely distribute timely, practical, accurate information about creating healthy school environments for children and staff. Enviro Ed Awards: Deadline Now April BO / CU If X £ EPA has extended the nominations deadline for the 2021 President's Environmental Youth Awards and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators. New deadline: April 30. Notable Dates National Public Health Week: April 5-11 National Healthy Schools Day: April 6 Earth Day: April 22 (www.epa.gov/earthday) Arbor Day: April 30 Healthy School NEWS is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10. Region 10 includes the states of Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Oregon and the tribes within those boundaries. For general information about school environmental health or to provide feedback on this newsletter, please contact Andrea Lindsay at lindsay.andrea@epa.gov. YOUR EPA CHILDREN'S HEALTH TEAM Andrea Lindsay Healthy Schools Coordinator To be added to or removed from the distribution list, please email lindsay. lindsay.andrea@epa.gov andrea@epa.gov with your request. Contact Region 10's Public Environmental Resource Center, the education, publication and information gateway to EPA's Region 10 Office, for free publications and educational resources for your school. Call (800) 424-4EPA or email epa-seattle@epa.gov. EPA Schools: www.epa.gov/schools 206-553-1896 Bryan Fiedorczyk Children's Environmental Health Coordinator fiedorczyk.bryan@epa.gov EPA Environmental Education: www.epa.gov/education 206-553-0506 Gretchen Stewart SEE - Children's Environmental Health & Healthy Schools stewart.gretchen@epa.gov EPA Children's Environmental Health: www.epa.gov/children Disclaimer: EPA has provided this material because it may be useful or interesting and is being provided in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the agency's mission. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by third-party materials or any other linked site. EPA is providing these materials for your reference. In doing so, EPA does not endorse any non-government Vi/ebsites, companies or applications. 206-553-0527 ------- |