In less than two weeks, students across Connecticut will return to school and young adults will begin their college journey for the 2024-2025 academic year. While this period brings excitement for students, parents, and schools, it also presents new lung health challenges. The American Lung Association is offering guidance to ensure that everyone starts the school year with healthy lungs.
“Back to school is an exciting time for students across Connecticut, and it is also a time for a fresh, healthy start,” said Ruth Canovi, 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 while promoting air quality and tobacco-free policies. This free initiative provides information, guides, and sample policies that can be implemented in schools.
The organization is focusing on four critical areas of lung health:
1. **Asthma**: In Connecticut, 55,800 children under 18 live with asthma—a leading cause of missed school days. The Lung Association offers extensive resources for parents, young adults, and schools.
2. **Tobacco Use**: New stressors such as vaping pose significant public health concerns. In Connecticut alone, 10.6% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the past month. Resources aimed at preventing tobacco use include programs like INDEPTH (an alternative suspension program), Not On Tobacco (a voluntary youth cessation program), and the Vape-Free Schools Initiative.
3. **Indoor Air Quality**: Poor indoor air quality in schools can affect attention spans and learning abilities among students and staff. The American Lung Association provides a free downloadable guide on improving indoor air quality in educational institutions.
4. **Infectious Respiratory Diseases and Vaccinations**: With a new academic year come new social interactions—and potential virus exposures—making it essential for students to maintain good health habits and stay up-to-date on vaccinations such as influenza and COVID-19.
Additional resources are available at Lung.org.
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