Helping schools maintain a healthy environment for students, teachers and staff is a priority for the State of Vermont. Chemicals used inside the school or on school grounds may contribute to poor indoor air quality (pollution) that can hurt student and teacher performance and result in missed school days. Poor indoor air quality can cause:
Eye, nose and throat irritation
Nausea
Tiredness
Long-term conditions — such as asthma and allergies
Vermont offers programs and resources to improve and maintain healthy school environments. The School Environment Health Act (Act 125) aims to improve school indoor air quality, reduce exposures to hazardous materials, and help schools earn the Envision Certificate of Achievement.
The Envision Program – Promoting Healthy School Environments was created from Act 125. It helps schools identify, prevent, and problem-solve potential environmental health and indoor air quality issues by providing a model environmental health management plan and policy. Envision gives schools the tools, training, and technical assistance to create and maintain a healthier school environment.
Healthy schools are more than ensuring good indoor air quality in school buildings. Creating a healthy school includes reducing exposure to other toxic substances, particularly asbestos, lead and radon.
Disinfecting wipes are easy to use but are generally not safe for everyday classroom use. Disinfecting wipes (for example, Lysol and Clorox brands) contain harsh chemicals that have been linked to acute and chronic health issues. They can cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation. Plus, the fragrances used can trigger allergies and asthma and have been linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues. Learn more about disinfecting wipes and what to use instead for everyday classroom cleanup
Envision Program
Phone: 802-863-7220 or 800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)
Fax: 802-863-7483
Email: [email protected]
