Healthy Schools 2

This is an on going discussion about our schools and how what we are using inside them are affecting our children.

most of the articles are from actions that are being taken in the state of New York.

WHAT SCHOOL NURSES KNOW: WE NEED NEW LAWS TO CLEAN UP SCHOOLS

A survey sponsored by: Healthy Schools Network and NYS Association of School Nurses, May 2000 ©

SELECTED SURVEY FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

More than 200 of the 1,000 members of the NYS Association of School Nurses, Inc. (NYSASN) responded to a survey of the Healthy Schools Network, Inc. (HSNet) on school environmental needs. Some of the survey results are of key concern to the parent, environment, public health, and education groups that are the constituencies of HSNet, including NYSASN, parents, PTA’s, educators, unions, environmentalists, American Lung Association, and other health groups across the state. We are reporting on selected results now; a full report will be available from HSNet and NYSASN this summer.

NYSASN did not ask its members to identify themselves or their schools, in part because some of its members would feel it unwise to disclose facts that might be misinterpreted and/or might jeopardize their jobs. The fear of workplace retaliation among school nurses may stun parents and amaze child health researchers, but it is not at all new to the organizations representing school personnel. It is an important and unexamined issue in the field of children's environmental health and safety at school.

The survey results offer further confirmation of the need for new legislation, specifically to address pesticide reduction and notification, and school nontoxic purchasing, bills pending in the State Legislature.

Of the 206 school nurses responding from 42 counties in New York State

*  71% reported that they knew students at school whose learning, breathing, or behavior are being affected by indoor environmental pollutants at school, such as bus fumes, cleaning products, pesticides, or scented products (65% of nurses from Long Island’s Nassau-Suffolk counties; 68%, from Orange-Rockland-Westchester counties north of New York City, hereinafter, N-S and O-R-W)

*  70% reported knowing school personnel whose performance was affected by environmental conditions (58%, N-S; 70%, O-R-W)