What Can Schools or Childcare Centers Do to Lower Children’s Exposure to the Unhealthy Air Quality Outside?

School and early care administrators can enhance indoor air quality in centers and schools through regular monitoring, better ventilation, filtration systems and other approaches. 

• Choose safe arts and crafts products for schools and home (see Additional Resources section).
• Promote no idling zones for buses near schools and daycare facilities.
• Contact your child’s school or center to see if they are using MERV13 or higher rated filters in their air conditioning and heating system (HVAC) and replacing these filters frequently. If these systems are not in place, encourage them to use portable air purifiers/filters. Choose those that are HEPA certified and avoid those with “ionizers”. You can also make fairly effective low cost filters by taping a MERV13 filter onto a box fan. For safety reasons, make sure the box fan used is from 2015 or later.