Asthma rates in children under the age of 5 have increased 160% over a 14-year period.
Asthma is the most common illness in childhood and the leading cause of absenteeism among school-aged children. It is often triggered by common airborne contaminants including dust, mold, allergens and viral respiratory infections, such as the flu. Unfortunately, people with asthma are more likely to suffer severe complications from influenza, which frequently spreads through the air in common areas such as classrooms, restrooms and locker rooms.
Asthma and allergies can also be triggered by poor building conditions, hazardous building materials or even cleaning supplies. Half the schools in the U.S. have IAQ complaints stemming from these factors. Workplaces often have similar problems, especially in restrooms, conference rooms and break rooms that regularly experience high traffic. In these areas, HVAC adjustments often can’t adequately address the problem.
Approximately 1 in 4 buildings, including schools and offices, suffer from sick building syndrome (SBS) because of poor indoor air quality.
Buildings with SBS often cause immediate symptoms such as dizziness, focusing difficulties and nausea for many occupants. They also create unsafe environments for those with allergies and asthma.
Optimizing Schools with Air Purification
To minimize asthma reactions at school, many educational facility managers are turning to new indoor air purification systems like AeraMax for protecting indoor environments during the school season. These commercial air cleaners purify the air in common areas such as schools, offices, waiting rooms, restrooms, and other areas of high concentrations of contaminants. The True HEPA filter captures 99.97% of airborne contaminants including viruses and allergens and the activated carbon filter reduces odors and VOCs. AeraMax commercial air purifier product line also features patented EnviroSmart technology that detects the environment and automatically adjusts performance.
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