Cleaner Air at LMSD Schools
Cleaner Air at LMSD Schools
The Issue
CleanAirForLMSD@gmail.com
We are a group of parents, neighbors, and educators who are urging the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH) and the Lower Merion School District (LMSD) to reduce the spread of upper respiratory viruses such as the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 among children in school by:
o placing a CO2 monitor in every classroom, recording CO2 levels in a logbook daily (at least every 3 hours) and requiring immediate further mitigating action(s) to be taken where levels rise above 800 ppm
o placing at least one HEPA air filter in every classroom, and in any indoor spaces used for PE, assemblies and/or eating lunch
WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR CHANGE:
Over the last 2 years, parents have been told that classrooms are safe and that the ventilation provided by MERV-13 filters and/or simply opening windows and doors is sufficient to prevent the spread of upper respiratory viruses. However, since the start of the school term on September 6, 2022, we have seen the numbers of children with upper respiratory illness in school explode. The evidence shows that MERV13 filters and/or opening windows is not enough.
ONE CURRENT EXAMPLE:
70/540 students at GES were out sick the week 31 October 2022 (LMSD parent’s information.)
38% of LMSD classrooms have ventilation ACH below 6 (recommended threshold.)
WHAT WE NEED:
VENTILATION & HEPA AIR PURIFIERS
For ventilation to be an EFFECTIVE mitigation, above six 'changes of air' are required every hour. HEPA air purifiers work to change the air in classrooms several times each hour, trapping any small viral particles in their filters and releasing air that no longer contains these particles. Without HEPA air purifiers, there are few options for teachers when the windows are already open.
CO2 MONITORS
CO2 monitors can alert staff when ventilation is not being effective enough to reduce the risk of viral particles circulating in the air, should there be infected people in a room. It is not enough to simply have a monitor in each school.
Readings need to be taken hourly, logged in an appropriate logbook, and should CO2 levels rise above 800 ppm, immediate further safety measures, such as turning on another HEPA filter, opening windows wider, or reducing the number of people in the room, must be taken. *To avoid confusion, AIR Purifiers do not remove Co2, only the virus particles contained in the room. Higher Co2 levels means the risk of infection is greater.
A CONSISTENT APPROACH IN ALL SCHOOLS
While there are some handhelds and built in Co2 monitors in schools, there is a lack of coherent and effective procedures for checking, logging, and responding to levels of CO2 that indicate insufficient ventilation.
EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTIPLE MITIGATIONS:
It is a mistake to consider one mitigation alone as a solution to making classrooms safer. It is only when a combination of mitigations is in place that we are fully minimizing the risk to our children and educators. This was illustrated with the Swiss Cheese Model by virologist Ian Mackay. We are already without the most effective measures in primary school classrooms by not having masks, or social distancing. Making the air safer is the very least we can do. This must be combined with better self-isolation rules from the government.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/health/coronavirus-swiss-cheese-infection-mackay.html
FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html
The CDC supports a COMBINATION of mitigations. This is especially crucial for older schools that have poorer ventilation options.
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
"Even if ventilation in a school already meets current building standards (many do not), additional air filtration from a portable device can help reduce the potential for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Portable HEPA air filters are easy to use, HEPA filtration is a proven technology, and the units have the advantage of being always “on.” A quiet unit (or combination of smaller units) can increase the number of air changes by at least 3 to 5 times in an 800-square-foot classroom …. Increasing the number of air changes per hour may substantially reduce aerosol transmission risks."
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/air-cleaners-hvac-filters-and-coronavirus-covid-19
"Schools should consider using portable air cleaners (air purifiers) to supplement increased HVAC system ventilation and filtration, especially when adequate ventilation is difficult to achieve.
When used along with other best practices recommended by CDC and other public health agencies, air cleaning and filtration can help reduce airborne contaminants, including particles containing viruses.” This includes the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.”
Harvard Health:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/26/science/reopen-schools-safety-ventilation.html
A 3D model created with data from a Harvard Health Study in the New York Times. It shows what happens in 3 scenarios within a classroom with one affect student: No Ventilation VS open windows only VS open windows with an air purifier in the center if the room.
***Spoiler alert: the air purifier with an open window was by far the most effective solution to reducing the spread.
WHICH HEPA AIR PURIFIER?
You need to get the right air purifier for each room. This is based on the size of the room and the CADR rating for each purifier. For an average sized classroom that is 55 square meters, a HEPA Air Purifier with a CADR rating of about 400 cubic meter / hour would suffice. These can be purchased for about £150-£250. Depending on the model, filters need replaced every 6-12 months.
BEYOND upper respiratory viruses:
There are great benefits to air purifiers beyond upper respiratory viruses. Asthma is increasing in children as pollution levels are on the rise. Air purifiers make the air safer for kids.
Air purifiers help with:
o other viruses and bacteria
mold
dust
allergens
pollution
There are several studies that show air purifiers increase academic performance overall even in healthy children, including:
FAQ/ COMMENTS:
Kids don’t get sick from COVID-19 and all the adults are vaccinated, why are you still going on about this?
A. The Government has incorrectly spread the message that the effects from Covid are binary – either you are hospitalized or you’re fine. That’s not true. There are multiple studies that show there can be long term affects in both adults and children whether they have symptoms or not. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2157
Please visit https://www.longcovidkids.org/ for a wealth of information.
In the UK, 34 000 children are currently experiencing persistent symptoms since Covid infection (ONS)
Data available from Long Covid Kids reports:
“Since the term started on the 16h of August, there have been 46,896 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in ages 0-19.
1% will be hospitalized: 468 (CDC & UK data)
14% will develop Long Covid: 6565 (CLoCK Study)
Local Authorities continue to tell parents that schools are not sources of transmission and that the rising case numbers are a result of community transmission.”
(Source: https://www.longcovidkids.org/post/let-s-be-honest-long-covid-kids-in-scotland
For the latest information and studies, please follow @LongCovidKids and @LCKScotland
I’m sick of hearing about this, it is time to get on with life!
A. Yes, we agree!! These measures will allow us to get on with life in a way that doesn’t see a generation of kids affected with long Covid and will keep hospital beds open for other patients who desperately need care.
This will all cost too much, haven’t we spent enough money?
A. Long term investments in cleaner air will save the government money in the long run with fewer illnesses. It allows parents to get back to work knowing our kids are safe.
The virus is already ripping through schools, isn’t it too late?
A. No, there is evidence that repeat infections can not only happen but that second infections can also cause lasting symptoms. Also, it’s important that we make this investment in clean air for many reasons beyond COVID-19, such as to reduce the effects of other viruses, pollution, asthma and allergens.
This petition has been created and modified by using the CA4C petition as a template given the information is relevant and similar in nature.
379
The Issue
CleanAirForLMSD@gmail.com
We are a group of parents, neighbors, and educators who are urging the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH) and the Lower Merion School District (LMSD) to reduce the spread of upper respiratory viruses such as the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 among children in school by:
o placing a CO2 monitor in every classroom, recording CO2 levels in a logbook daily (at least every 3 hours) and requiring immediate further mitigating action(s) to be taken where levels rise above 800 ppm
o placing at least one HEPA air filter in every classroom, and in any indoor spaces used for PE, assemblies and/or eating lunch
WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR CHANGE:
Over the last 2 years, parents have been told that classrooms are safe and that the ventilation provided by MERV-13 filters and/or simply opening windows and doors is sufficient to prevent the spread of upper respiratory viruses. However, since the start of the school term on September 6, 2022, we have seen the numbers of children with upper respiratory illness in school explode. The evidence shows that MERV13 filters and/or opening windows is not enough.
ONE CURRENT EXAMPLE:
70/540 students at GES were out sick the week 31 October 2022 (LMSD parent’s information.)
38% of LMSD classrooms have ventilation ACH below 6 (recommended threshold.)
WHAT WE NEED:
VENTILATION & HEPA AIR PURIFIERS
For ventilation to be an EFFECTIVE mitigation, above six 'changes of air' are required every hour. HEPA air purifiers work to change the air in classrooms several times each hour, trapping any small viral particles in their filters and releasing air that no longer contains these particles. Without HEPA air purifiers, there are few options for teachers when the windows are already open.
CO2 MONITORS
CO2 monitors can alert staff when ventilation is not being effective enough to reduce the risk of viral particles circulating in the air, should there be infected people in a room. It is not enough to simply have a monitor in each school.
Readings need to be taken hourly, logged in an appropriate logbook, and should CO2 levels rise above 800 ppm, immediate further safety measures, such as turning on another HEPA filter, opening windows wider, or reducing the number of people in the room, must be taken. *To avoid confusion, AIR Purifiers do not remove Co2, only the virus particles contained in the room. Higher Co2 levels means the risk of infection is greater.
A CONSISTENT APPROACH IN ALL SCHOOLS
While there are some handhelds and built in Co2 monitors in schools, there is a lack of coherent and effective procedures for checking, logging, and responding to levels of CO2 that indicate insufficient ventilation.
EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTIPLE MITIGATIONS:
It is a mistake to consider one mitigation alone as a solution to making classrooms safer. It is only when a combination of mitigations is in place that we are fully minimizing the risk to our children and educators. This was illustrated with the Swiss Cheese Model by virologist Ian Mackay. We are already without the most effective measures in primary school classrooms by not having masks, or social distancing. Making the air safer is the very least we can do. This must be combined with better self-isolation rules from the government.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/health/coronavirus-swiss-cheese-infection-mackay.html
FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html
The CDC supports a COMBINATION of mitigations. This is especially crucial for older schools that have poorer ventilation options.
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
"Even if ventilation in a school already meets current building standards (many do not), additional air filtration from a portable device can help reduce the potential for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Portable HEPA air filters are easy to use, HEPA filtration is a proven technology, and the units have the advantage of being always “on.” A quiet unit (or combination of smaller units) can increase the number of air changes by at least 3 to 5 times in an 800-square-foot classroom …. Increasing the number of air changes per hour may substantially reduce aerosol transmission risks."
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/air-cleaners-hvac-filters-and-coronavirus-covid-19
"Schools should consider using portable air cleaners (air purifiers) to supplement increased HVAC system ventilation and filtration, especially when adequate ventilation is difficult to achieve.
When used along with other best practices recommended by CDC and other public health agencies, air cleaning and filtration can help reduce airborne contaminants, including particles containing viruses.” This includes the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.”
Harvard Health:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/26/science/reopen-schools-safety-ventilation.html
A 3D model created with data from a Harvard Health Study in the New York Times. It shows what happens in 3 scenarios within a classroom with one affect student: No Ventilation VS open windows only VS open windows with an air purifier in the center if the room.
***Spoiler alert: the air purifier with an open window was by far the most effective solution to reducing the spread.
WHICH HEPA AIR PURIFIER?
You need to get the right air purifier for each room. This is based on the size of the room and the CADR rating for each purifier. For an average sized classroom that is 55 square meters, a HEPA Air Purifier with a CADR rating of about 400 cubic meter / hour would suffice. These can be purchased for about £150-£250. Depending on the model, filters need replaced every 6-12 months.
BEYOND upper respiratory viruses:
There are great benefits to air purifiers beyond upper respiratory viruses. Asthma is increasing in children as pollution levels are on the rise. Air purifiers make the air safer for kids.
Air purifiers help with:
o other viruses and bacteria
mold
dust
allergens
pollution
There are several studies that show air purifiers increase academic performance overall even in healthy children, including:
FAQ/ COMMENTS:
Kids don’t get sick from COVID-19 and all the adults are vaccinated, why are you still going on about this?
A. The Government has incorrectly spread the message that the effects from Covid are binary – either you are hospitalized or you’re fine. That’s not true. There are multiple studies that show there can be long term affects in both adults and children whether they have symptoms or not. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2157
Please visit https://www.longcovidkids.org/ for a wealth of information.
In the UK, 34 000 children are currently experiencing persistent symptoms since Covid infection (ONS)
Data available from Long Covid Kids reports:
“Since the term started on the 16h of August, there have been 46,896 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in ages 0-19.
1% will be hospitalized: 468 (CDC & UK data)
14% will develop Long Covid: 6565 (CLoCK Study)
Local Authorities continue to tell parents that schools are not sources of transmission and that the rising case numbers are a result of community transmission.”
(Source: https://www.longcovidkids.org/post/let-s-be-honest-long-covid-kids-in-scotland
For the latest information and studies, please follow @LongCovidKids and @LCKScotland
I’m sick of hearing about this, it is time to get on with life!
A. Yes, we agree!! These measures will allow us to get on with life in a way that doesn’t see a generation of kids affected with long Covid and will keep hospital beds open for other patients who desperately need care.
This will all cost too much, haven’t we spent enough money?
A. Long term investments in cleaner air will save the government money in the long run with fewer illnesses. It allows parents to get back to work knowing our kids are safe.
The virus is already ripping through schools, isn’t it too late?
A. No, there is evidence that repeat infections can not only happen but that second infections can also cause lasting symptoms. Also, it’s important that we make this investment in clean air for many reasons beyond COVID-19, such as to reduce the effects of other viruses, pollution, asthma and allergens.
This petition has been created and modified by using the CA4C petition as a template given the information is relevant and similar in nature.
379
Petition created on November 12, 2022