In less than two weeks, children across Maine will be returning to school and young adults will be starting college for the 2024-2025 academic year. While this period is often marked by excitement, it also brings new lung health challenges. The American Lung Association is offering guidance to parents, young adults, and school officials to ensure everyone maintains healthy lungs.
“Back to school is an exciting time for students across Maine, and it is also a time for a fresh, healthy start,” said Lance Boucher, Director of Advocacy for 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 Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth initiative aims to help schools and caregivers address chronic lung diseases like asthma through improved air quality and tobacco-free policies. This free initiative provides information, guides, and sample policies that can be implemented in schools.
The association focuses on four critical areas of lung health:
1. **Asthma**: In Maine, 15,200 children under 18 live with asthma—a leading cause of missed school days. The association offers comprehensive resources for managing asthma.
2. **Tobacco Use**: Peer pressure during the school year can lead to vaping or other tobacco use. In Maine, 18.1% of high school students reported using tobacco in the last 30 days. Resources are available through programs such as INDEPTH alternative suspension program and Not On Tobacco voluntary youth cessation program.
3. **Indoor Air Quality**: Poor air quality in schools affects attention spans and learning abilities among students and staff. The association provides a free guide on improving indoor air quality in educational settings.
4. **Infectious Respiratory Diseases and Vaccinations**: With the return to classrooms comes increased exposure to viruses; thus maintaining up-to-date vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19 is crucial.
More resources can be found at Lung.org.
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