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 HEPA filters to pre-schools and daycares in need.
For more about the health risks of wildfire smoke exposure please visit our Wildfire Smoke page.
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 ongoing cooperation of school administrators, teachers, facility managers, custodians, and parents and community members on this project.
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What we know now:
What can we learn with this Needs Assessment: For our area youth to stay healthy, we need to answer the following questions:
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Sarah visiting a Potomac Elementary school. Knowing the square footage of classrooms is important for understanding how many HEPA purifiers are needed.
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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, HEPA air purifiers may be necessary.
This summer, Climate Smart Missoula is working closely with the Missoula City-County Health Department. Together, we have a cache of portable HEPA filters that we hope to lend or donate to daycares who cannot afford to buy their own. We are prioritizing the youngest first, but hope to get filters out to as many locations as possible, including daycares, pre-schools, k-12 schools affected by smoke, and home-bound seniors.
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, HEPA air purifiers may be necessary.
This summer, Climate Smart Missoula is working closely with the Missoula City-County Health Department. Together, we have a cache of portable HEPA filters that we hope to lend or donate to daycares who cannot afford to buy their own. We are prioritizing the youngest first, but hope to get filters out to as many locations as possible, including daycares, pre-schools, k-12 schools affected by smoke, and home-bound seniors.
Please FILL OUT THIS FORM if you are in charge of a daycare center or pre-school in Missoula County, so that we can help you keep Missoula-area youth healthy. We will then be in touch!
This survey is the best way we can assess need and start helping! Any questions? Email Sarah from Climate Smart.
This survey is the best way we can assess need and start helping! Any questions? Email Sarah from Climate Smart.
2017 Wildfire Smoke Season
Climate Smart Missoula and the Missoula City-County Health Department assisted area schools by providing HEPA air filters to those schools most at risk from the Rice Ridge and Lolo Peak fires. The American Lung Association and others also assisted schools in western Montana. A more detailed recap of these collaborative efforts is coming soon.
Support this Effort!
Any donations to Climate Smart's HEPA air filtration program will go to purchasing and distributing additional filters for schools, daycare centers, young children and other vulnerable individuals. You can DONATE HERE. And THANK YOU!