Millions of children are returning to classrooms and young adults are starting college for the 2024-2025 school year. While this is an exciting time, it can also present new lung health challenges. The American Lung Association is offering guidance to parents, young adults, and school officials to ensure everyone returns to school with healthy lungs.
“A new school year often means a new environment for students and staff, including new asthma triggers, exposure to new viruses, peer pressure to smoke or vape, and other stressors that can impact the health of students,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Students and staff spend a significant amount of time in school, so it is critical to their wellbeing and education that they are in the healthiest environment and are making the healthiest choices possible.”
The Lung Association’s comprehensive Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth initiative aims to help schools and caregivers address chronic lung diseases like asthma, air quality, and tobacco-free policies. This free initiative offers information, guides, and sample policies that can be implemented in schools to protect students and staff.
The association is also working to educate parents, students, and school officials in four critical areas of lung health:
1. Asthma: There are 6.1 million children under the age of 18 living with asthma, a leading cause of missed school days. The Lung Association provides extensive resources for parents, young adults, and schools.
2. Tobacco Use: A new school year can introduce stressors such as vaping and other tobacco or nicotine product use. According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 2.1 million middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. The Lung Association offers resources designed for schools, parents, and teens outlined in its Comprehensive Approach to Ending Youth Vaping Model.
3. Indoor Air Quality: School environments must prioritize health; however some hazards like indoor air pollution may not be apparent. Poor air quality can affect attention span, cognition, and learning ability among students and staff. The American Lung Association provides a free downloadable guide on improving indoor air quality in schools.
4. Infectious Respiratory Diseases and Vaccinations: With a new school year come new social interactions which may lead to virus exposure; thus it is essential that students maintain good health habits and stay up-to-date with recommended vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
More resources are available at Lung.org.
