In less than two weeks, children across New Hampshire will be returning to school, and young adults will be starting college for the 2024-2025 academic year. The American Lung Association is offering guidance to parents, students, and school officials to ensure lung health as they head back to their educational institutions.
“Back to school is an exciting time for students across New Hampshire, 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 comprehensive Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth initiative aims to help schools and caregivers address chronic lung diseases like asthma, air quality issues, and tobacco-free policies. This free initiative provides information, guides, and sample policies that can be implemented in schools.
The association focuses on educating parents, students, and school officials in four critical areas of lung health:
1. **Asthma**: In New Hampshire, there are 10,700 children under 18 living with asthma—a leading cause of missed school days. The Lung Association offers extensive resources for managing asthma.
2. **Tobacco Use**: With new stressors and peer pressure situations such as vaping prevalent among youth—16.2% of high school students in New Hampshire reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days—the association provides resources designed to prevent tobacco use and help youth quit.
3. **Indoor Air Quality**: Poor indoor air quality in schools can affect attention spans and learning abilities. The American Lung Association offers a free downloadable guide on improving indoor air quality in schools.
4. **Infectious Respiratory Diseases and Vaccinations**: With new social interactions come potential exposures to viruses; hence it is crucial that students maintain good health habits and stay updated on vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19.
More resources are available at Lung.org.
