Kids across West Virginia are preparing to return to school for the 2024-2025 academic year, with young adults heading off to college. While this period is filled with anticipation for students, parents, and educational institutions, it also brings potential lung health challenges. The American Lung Association in West Virginia is offering advice to parents, young adults, and school officials to promote lung health as the new school year begins.
"Back to school is an exciting time for students across West Virginia and it is also a time for a fresh, healthy start," said Deb Brown, Chief Mission Officer of the American Lung Association. "As we enter the new school year, it is critical for parents, students and school staff to be aware of new asthma triggers, exposure to new viruses, peer pressure to smoke or vape, and other stressors that can impact the health of students. We are happy to offer several resources and guidance to keep everyone healthy this year."
The Lung Association’s comprehensive Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth initiative aims at assisting schools and caregivers in addressing chronic lung diseases such as asthma while promoting air quality and tobacco-free policies. This free initiative provides information, guides, and sample policies that can be adopted by schools to safeguard the well-being of students and staff.
The organization is also focusing on educating parents, students, and school officials about four critical areas of lung health:
More resources are available at Lung.org.
