In 2018, Climate Smart Missoula and the Missoula Health Department (and with support from the United Way of Missoula County) are working to understand the indoor air quality needs of students in Missoula County, educate the public about clean air for children, and provide portable HEPA air cleaners to pre-schools and daycare centers in need.
Check out this October 2018 Missoula Current article:
Protecting our children's indoor air in a hotter, smokier climate
For more about the health risks of wildfire smoke exposure please visit our Wildfire Smoke page.
Protecting our children's indoor air in a hotter, smokier climate
For more about the health risks of wildfire smoke exposure please visit our Wildfire Smoke page.
2018 K-12 Needs Assessment
We are experiencing longer, hotter and drier summers, and these conditions now often spill into fall when schools are back in session. Research and experience shows that the indoor air in many school systems may not be healthy during smoke events. By conducting a detailed Clean Air Needs Assessment of indoor air quality, specific to wildfire smoke, we aim to understand the needs of each school and begin developing recommendations to improve the indoor air. We are grateful for the cooperation of school administrators, teachers, facility managers, custodians, and parents and community members on this project.
The full Assessment with each individual school's information and recommendations can be downloaded HERE (December 2018)
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What we've learned, in a nutshell:
Few schools currently have effective mechanisms to filter wildfire smoke particles.
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Sarah visiting Potomac Elementary school. Knowing the square footage of classrooms is important for understanding how many HEPA air cleaners are needed.
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Now what?
The community can help schools increase their capacity to filter harmful wildfire smoke particles in many ways, including raising money for portable HEPA air cleaners, pushing for school remodels that include upgraded, MERV 13+ HVAC systems, and by educating each other about the importance of healthy air. Projects focused on growing or building shade around school buildings are also great - plants or structures on the outside of windows help keep schools cool during hot summer days. This not only reduces energy consumption by limiting the need for air conditioning, but also minimizes the need for open windows, which, on smoky days, is critical for students health.
Beginning with this needs assessment of public schools, our hope is that Missoula can make steps towards becoming smoke-ready. We want our schools, workplaces, homes, and indoor recreation spaces to protect us and our families from harmful particulates when the smoke inevitably comes around.
See our HEPA filtration or Improving Indoor Air pages for more information about how to filter wildfire smoke particulates out of indoor spaces.
Beginning with this needs assessment of public schools, our hope is that Missoula can make steps towards becoming smoke-ready. We want our schools, workplaces, homes, and indoor recreation spaces to protect us and our families from harmful particulates when the smoke inevitably comes around.
See our HEPA filtration or Improving Indoor Air pages for more information about how to filter wildfire smoke particulates out of indoor spaces.
Daycares and Pre-schools
Unlike K-12 schools, daycares and pre-schools often run throughout the summer. Longer and more intense wildfires seasons pose a serious health threat to our most vulnerable - babies and children under five. We now know that the younger the child, the more they are at risk of experiencing health complications due to wildfire smoke exposure. These impacts can include reduced lung capacity, the development of asthma, greater susceptibility to infections, and more.
Daycares and pre-schools range from small in-home locations to larger facilities with higher enrollment. Some may be able to protect the health of their kiddos when indoors by installing better (MERV 13+) filters into their HVAC systems during periods of wildfires smoke. Click here for more information about central air filtration possibilities. Many daycares are smaller in size and don't have central air. To provide healthy air for babies and young kids, portable HEPA air cleaners may be necessary.
Daycares and pre-schools range from small in-home locations to larger facilities with higher enrollment. Some may be able to protect the health of their kiddos when indoors by installing better (MERV 13+) filters into their HVAC systems during periods of wildfires smoke. Click here for more information about central air filtration possibilities. Many daycares are smaller in size and don't have central air. To provide healthy air for babies and young kids, portable HEPA air cleaners may be necessary.
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During the 2018 wildfire season, Climate Smart Missoula again worked closely with the Missoula City-County Health Department. Together, we built a cache of portable HEPA air cleaners, which we lent or donated to daycares and pre-schools who could not afford to buy their own. This effort was primarily funded by the United Way of Missoula County, with additional funds provided by Healthy Babies - Bright Futures, Northwestern Energy, and private donations.
Here's what we accomplished:
"Every time the door is opened, the sensor will switch to orange or red, but quickly goes back to green. I know the smoke is not as bad this year, but I can tell the kids are a lot less effected by it with these filters! Thank you again!" These filters will help protect many kids in Missoula County from smoke, but there are still many who are at risk of health impacts from wildfire smoke exposure. We may continue this work, in partnership with the community, in order to keep Missoula people healthy! You can donate to Climate Smart here, and remember to get one for your home! Click here for information about choosing the right portable HEPA air cleaner.
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Kids at Origins daycare build block structures while one of the center's eight HEPA cleaners (center) works to keep their air healthy.
"We are so very appreciative of the air filters donated by Climate Smart Missoula. It's so reassuring to know that our kiddos are breathing in fresh air during this smoky season!" |
Sarah opens a portable air purifier to show Potomac Principal John Rouse the HEPA filter inside.
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Climate Smart Missoula gave Potomac school three portable HEPA air cleaners for use in the classroom of one particularly sensitive young student.
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2017 Wildfire Smoke Season
Climate Smart Missoula and the Missoula City-County Health Department assisted area schools by providing portable HEPA air cleaners to the schools most at risk from the Rice Ridge and Lolo Peak fires. We were able to give or lend:
The American Lung Association and others also assisted schools in western Montana.
We also provided air cleaners free of charge to home-bound seniors with respiratory challenges, families with new babies and no means to purchase, and vulnerable folks of all walks living in Seeley Lake.
Thank you to the United Way of Missoula County, NorthWestern Energy, Winix Company, and many private individuals who made this effort possible!
- 20 portable HEPA filters to Seeley Lake Elementary School (and then the school matched us and purchased 20 of their own).
- 25 filters lent to Lolo Elementary, as well as more from the Health Department's cache.
- 8 filters were given to Swan Valley School.
- 5 filters were given to Woodman School.
- 30 filters were given to individuals in need via Missoula Aging Services.
The American Lung Association and others also assisted schools in western Montana.
We also provided air cleaners free of charge to home-bound seniors with respiratory challenges, families with new babies and no means to purchase, and vulnerable folks of all walks living in Seeley Lake.
Thank you to the United Way of Missoula County, NorthWestern Energy, Winix Company, and many private individuals who made this effort possible!
Amy with a happy HEPA filter recipient!
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Intern Terri with volunteers from Lion's Den Ministries - getting ready to distribute some HEPA air filters!
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