School Health Services
Environmental Health
School Environmental Health refers to the hazards that may be found in and around school facilities. This can include indoor air pollutants, outdoor pollutants, hazardous substances, drinking water quality, food safety, and noise. A healthy physical school environment should reduce illnesses, improve comfort, and advance academic performance. Moreover, implementing a well-crafted plan can ensure compliance with various regulations. School staff should develop a School Environmental Health Plan. Key elements to review in the School Environmental Health Plan include cleaning and maintenance, chemicals and contaminants, mold and moisture, pests and pesticide, ventilation and filtration, sustainability, and outdoor concerns. MDH's School Environmental Health web portal provides guidance on 22 topic areas concerning school environmental health.
Ventilation
Ventilation is important for good indoor air quality (IAQ) and should be considered as part of a larger effort to provide a healthy school environment and reduce the risk of airborne spread of viruses and other contaminants.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have put together many resources and tools, listed below, to help schools.
These resources focus on the key strategies of bringing as much outdoor air into the school as possible; ensuring that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) settings are maximizing ventilation; and improving the level of air filtration as much as possible. ASHRAE and CDC provide specific guidance for school nurses offices and CDC has created an Interactive School Ventilation Tool to help schools learn how to optimize ventilation to reduce particles in classrooms. While these recommended actions cannot eliminate risks, they will reduce them by helping to lower the presence of airborne particles and aerosols.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Plans
School leaders are encouraged to create an action plan for clean indoor air in all buildings that will assess IAQ, review building areas at higher risk (e.g., school health offices, isolation rooms), and include HVAC inspections and maintenance, and plan for upgrade and improvements to indoor air systems.
School leaders should also communicate with their school communities about their clean indoor air plans and additional actions that can be taken by students, staff, and families to increase awareness, commitment, and participation in improving indoor air quality and health outcomes.
Resources and Guidance
- CDC Ventilation in Buildings
- EPA: Clean Air in Buildings Challenge
Guidance to help building owners and operators improve indoor air quality and protect public health. - MDH Indoor Air Considerations: COVID-19
- MDH Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Plans in Schools
Pesticide Use in Schools
Controlling pests in and around schools may be necessary to protect children’s health. Pests can spread disease, trigger asthma attacks, and in the case of insect stings, cause life-threatening allergic reactions. However, it is also important to minimize children’s exposure to pesticides.
MDH Pesticide Use in Schools provides additional information including the Parents Right to Know Act of 2000 and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
MDE: Health and Safety provides Health and Safety Environmental Management Program (PDF) which covers pest control and other topics for a health school environment.
Latex-free Policies
Latex-free policies in schools promote both individual health environmental health by reducing the risk of allergic reactions and minimizing the environmental impact of latex-containing products.
Fragrance-free Policies
Fragrance-free policies promote a health environment for those with sensitivities or allergies to certain fragrances or chemicals found in personal care products. These policies aim to reduce exposure to potential irritants and allergens which improves indoor air quality.
Heat Index
The heat index is a measure that combines air temperature and relative humidity to estimate how hot the weather feels to the human body. High heat index values can pose health risks to students, particularly young children, elderly individuals, and those with certain medical conditions. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Schools need to monitor heat index levels to ensure the safety and well-being of students during outdoor activities such as recess, physical education classes, and sports practice and events.
High heat index values may also impact indoor comfort levels within school buildings, especially in classrooms without air conditioning or adequate ventilation. Schools may need to implement measures to mitigate indoor heat, such as providing fans, using shades or blinds to block sunlight, and scheduling activities in cooler parts of the building during hot weather.
National Weather Service Heat Index Chart
Cold Index
The cold index generally refers to a combination of factors that contribute to the perception of cold weather, such as air temperature, wind speed, and humidity. Exposure to cold temperatures can increase the risk of cold-related illnesses and injuries, such as hypothermia and frostbite, particularly among young children who may be more vulnerable. School leaders can make decisions at the local level to implement guidelines or policies for outdoor activities based on temperature thresholds, wind chill factors, or other relevant weather conditions. Schools need to be prepared to address these risks by ensuring students are dressed appropriately for cold weather, providing warm indoor spaces during school drop-off and pick-up, recess, or other outdoor activities, and monitoring for signs of cold-related health issues.
National Weather Service Windchill Chart
Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized measurement used to communicate the quality of outdoor air and potential health effects associated with air pollution. It typically considers pollutants such as ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
Poor air quality can have significant health effects, especially on children, whose respiratory systems are still developing. Exposure to pollutants like PM2.5 (e.g. wildfire smoke) and ozone can exacerbate asthma, cause respiratory irritation, and lead to other health issues. Monitoring the AQI allows schools to take appropriate measures to protect students' health, such as limiting outdoor activities on days with poor air quality or providing accommodations for students with respiratory conditions.
MDH created a guidance document in a collaborative effort to work alongside schools and child care facilities statewide. The goal of this outdoor air guidance is to lower the risk of negative impacts to children’s health due to poor air quality events.
- The following recommendations are to help schools and child care staff determine when and how to adjust outdoor physical activities when air quality starts to reach unhealthy levels.
- This guidance is optional, and each school and child care center can use it as a tool when making decisions around balancing healthy outdoor activities that keep children active against the potential harms of poor air quality.
The guidance document (PDF) and additional resources are now available on the Minnesota Outdoor Air Quality Guidance for Schools and Child Care webpage. Please email health.asthma@state.mn.us with outdoor air quality guidance questions.