What Can Schools or Childcare Centers Do to Lower Children’s Exposure to the Harmful Health Effects of Wildfires?

pehsu
06/04/2025

School or childcare center administrators can work with local health and air quality officials to understand how to best implement school activity guidelines and other responses to a smoke event. Monitoring indoor air quality is an important way to tailor interventions and keep kids safe. When there is smoke outside, the best place to be is an indoor space with good air quality. If outdoors for brief periods, consider having kids wear NIOSH-certified N95 masks, especially if kids are coughing or have underlying health concerns. Schools should consider creating large clean air rooms, such as cafeterias, gyms, or auditoriums – which can also serve as clean air shelters for community members outside of school hours. Ideally, ALL classrooms should be clean air rooms to keep kids safe.

Type: Children's Health Issue: WildfiresInfo For: Families & CommunitiesPEHSU: Exposure Pathway: Weather