COeaOffiow Kids grow and learn better in pollution-free schools &EPA January 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 liIMi Welcome to 2021. With a new year comes fresh beginnings. One step you can take is to revisit ways to protect the environmental health of the children in your care. This issue features a toolbox of select resources to help you do just that, whether learning is remote or in classroom. Thanks for being therefor those young learners. We are here to help you. As we look to brighter days ahead, let the learning continue! Please share with others, and print and post. Your Healthy School Toolbox TOPIC THE BASICS LEARN MORE Teaching Resources EPA offers environmental education resources for kids, parents, and teachers. You will find online activities, curricula, storybooks, and more. https://www.epa.gov/students Sally Hanft: 206-553-1207, hanft.sally@epa.gov Indoor Air Quality Healthy indoor air reduces absences, improves test scores, and enhances student and staff productivity. Also, good ventilation and filtration help reduce the spread of illness. https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools Gretchen Stewart: 206-553-0527, stewart.gretchen@epa.gov Safer Cleaning The Safer Choice label gives you an easy way to choose cleaning products with safer ingredients. The label shows that a product has met EPA's rigorous safety standards. Safer Choice products are better for the environment and people's health. About Safer Choice: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice Browse Safer Choice Products: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/products Kendra Tyler: 206-553-0041, tyler.kendra@epa.gov COVID-T9 Information to help schools and childcare programs to plan, prepare, and respond during the pandemic. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ schools-childcare/index.html Lead in Drinking Water At school: EPA's 3Ts Toolkit helps schools and childcares carry out voluntary lead in drinking water testing programs. The 3Ts are Training, Testing, and Taking Action. https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking- water/3ts-reducing-lead-drinking-water-toolkit Chris Affeldt: 206-553-6068, affeldt.chris@epa.gov ------- January 2021 Healthy Schools News Page 2 TOPIC THE BASICS LEARN MORE Wildfire Smoke Wildfire smoke lowers air quality and presents health risks for students, parents, and staff. EPA offers you resources to plan, track conditions, and act to reduce health risk. Toolbox: https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox- wildfires Track local air conditions: https://fire.airnow.gov/ Protect children: https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/ files/2020-06/pehsu-protecting-children-from-wildfire- smoke-and-ash-factsheet.pdf Gretchen Stewart: 206-553-0527, stewart.gretchen@epa.gov Radon Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. High levels have been found in a number of homes and schools across the country. Find out if a potential problem could exist in your building. https://www.epa.gov/radon/radon-schools Gretchen Stewart: 206-553-0527, stewart.gretchen@epa.gov Food Waste Learn how our food choices may impact the environment and how we can reduce food waste and save money. https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food Domenic Calabro 206-553-6640 Calabro.domenic@epa.gov Lead Based Paint The Renovation, Repair, and & Painting (RRP) Rule helps protect children from exposure to lead- based paint dust caused by renovation and repairs in buildings built before 1978. https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and- painting-program Maria Tartaglia: 206-553-1128, tartaglia.maria@epa.gov Moid and Moisture Control The key to mold control is moisture control If mold is a problem in your school or home, clean up the mold, and eliminate sources of moisture. Mold can affect indoor air quality and health. Learn more. https://www.epa.gov/mold Gretchen Stewart: 206-553-0527, stewart.gretchen@epa.gov ------- January 2021 Healthy Schools News Page 3 Pests Integrated pest management (IPM) uses safer and usually less costly options to address pest issues. Strategies focus on reducing sources of food, water, and shelter for pests. https://www.epa.gov/ipm Bethany Plewe: 208-378-5753, plewe.bethany@epa.gov Spanish Language Resources Aprenda acerca de como establecer y mejorar los ambientes escolares sanos. View information about healthy schools in Spanish. https://espanol.epa.gov/espanol/ambientes-escolares- sanos Energy Conservation EPA's Energy Star program helps you improve energy efficiency, reduce utility bills, and protect the environment - at home or at school. https://www.energystar.gov/ Student Toolkit: https://www.energystar.gov/sites/ default/files/tools/K12EnergyEfficiencyStudentToolkit.pdf Kathleen Compton: 206-553-0290, compton.kathleen@epa.gov Children's Environmental Health Children are often more vulnerable to pollutants than adults. Reducing exposures helps keep children healthy. https://www.epa.gov/children Bryan Fiedorczyk, 206-553-0506 fiedorczyk.bryan@epa.gov Other Topics Contact us. We can help point you in the right direction. Andrea Lindsay, lindsay.andrea@epa.gov Environmental Education Corner Congratulations to EPA Region 10's 2020 President's Environmental Youth Awardee - Anna Devolld of Alaska! Anna's Promote Our Pollinators effort has inspired thousands of people to be good stewards of our natural resources. EPA is now accepting applications for the 2021 President's Environmental Youth Awards. PEYA recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects by K-12 youth. Due date: February 19, 2021. It's time for Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators, too! This award honors outstanding K-12 educators who integrate environmental learning into curricula and school facility management. Apply by February 19, 2021. 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. To be added to or removed from the distribution list, please email lindsay.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) 424-4EPAor email epa-seattle@epa.gov. EPA Schools: www.epa.gov/schools EPA Environmental Education: www.epa.gov/enviroed/ EPA Children's Environmental Health: www.epa.gov/children Disclaimer: EPA has provided this mote rial 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 websites, companies or applications. YOUR EPA CHILDREN'S HEALTH TEAM Andrea Lindsay Healthy Schools Coordinator lindsay.andrea@epa.gov Bryan Fiedorczyk Children's Environmental Health Coordinator fiedorczyk.bryan@epa.gov 206-553-0506 Gretchen Stewart SEE - Children's Environmental Health & Healthy Schools stewart.gretchen@epa.gov 206-553-0527 ------- |