Right 2 Safe Schools AZ is currently gathering information to get a sense of the use of HEPA Filtration in schools in Arizona.
Please complete the survey with any information you know about the schools/districts in your area. These can be public schools, charter schools, or private schools.
We just want to ensure that schools are utilizing this mitigation strategy in schools to keep kids safe.
tinyurl.com/AZSchoolFilterSurvey
Additionally, if you can share the survey link with your networks of friends and on your social media that would be very helpful.
Information on HEPA Air Purifiers: COVID-19 is a highly contagious airborne virus. Improved air ventilation plays a large role in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Arizona school buildings are chronically under ventilated. Additionally, we don't have the opportunity to distance in most classrooms. There are a variety of factors at play that contribute to a lack of ventilation including building design for most Arizona schools that do not have windows or the ability to allow fresh air into classrooms. Because windows cannot be opened in many schools, increasing ventilation cannot be achieved without a portable air filter, which can reasonably and more reliably increase ventilation.
The science is clear: “properly sized portable air cleaners (sized in relation to the volume of the space), with HEPA filters and high clean air delivery rates can be effective in reducing exposures to airborne infectious respiratory particles. Portable air cleaners can significantly increase the clean air supply in a classroom, and therefore can be considered a cost-effective supplementary measure where the total ventilation airflow rate is insufficient.” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S9KdYKyu2ynK1J-D9L9TSRNf4klUyL29/view?usp=sharing
Health equity should be a top priority for all Arizona schools. Parents who can afford it are currently purchasing air purifiers for classrooms in higher socioeconomic regions of our state. Arizona schools have an ethical obligation to utilize federal dollars meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Research has shown that portable HEPA filters are a key part of a layered mitigation strategy for dramatically reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne viruses (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7027e1.htm). Funding for these portable filtration systems provides a one time opportunity to invest in both the short and long-term health of all students.
Purchasing air purifiers is a long term investment for all students and staff. In addition to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne viruses (e.g. colds, flu, RSV, etc.), benefits include increased test scores, cognitive function, decrease in asthma and respiratory symptoms, decrease in missed school days for students and staff and decrease in illness absence. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLmva6dLVTCHDsXYeZYgkwVUrRiytOgW/view?usp=sharing
In solidarity & gratitude, The Right2SafeSchools Team
Quick note about HEPA Filters
Quick note about HEPA Filters
Quick note about HEPA Filters
Greetings -
Right 2 Safe Schools AZ is currently gathering information to get a sense of the use of HEPA Filtration in schools in Arizona.
Please complete the survey with any information you know about the schools/districts in your area. These can be public schools, charter schools, or private schools.
We just want to ensure that schools are utilizing this mitigation strategy in schools to keep kids safe.
tinyurl.com/AZSchoolFilterSurvey
Additionally, if you can share the survey link with your networks of friends and on your social media that would be very helpful.
Why a push for HEPA filters in classrooms?
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recommends healthy air should be a priority in schools. There are Federal funds available to help reduce risks related to COVID-19. See, https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/pubs_archive/pubs-pdfs/2021/20210526-school-ventilation.pdf
For approved use of federal dollars in public schools.
See, Federal Emergency Aid for Public Education: A Checklist of Fund Uses under ESSER
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3oMgeW22APpXcg10f6er2PYuTTyzgGH/view
For the Improved Ventilation Air Purifier Advocacy Toolkit for schools visit: https://right2safeschoolsaz.org/follow-the-science
Information on HEPA Air Purifiers:
COVID-19 is a highly contagious airborne virus. Improved air ventilation plays a large role in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Arizona school buildings are chronically under ventilated. Additionally, we don't have the opportunity to distance in most classrooms. There are a variety of factors at play that contribute to a lack of ventilation including building design for most Arizona schools that do not have windows or the ability to allow fresh air into classrooms. Because windows cannot be opened in many schools, increasing ventilation cannot be achieved without a portable air filter, which can reasonably and more reliably increase ventilation.
The science is clear:
“properly sized portable air cleaners (sized in relation to the volume of the space), with HEPA filters and high clean air delivery rates can be effective in reducing exposures to airborne infectious respiratory particles. Portable air cleaners can significantly increase the clean air supply in a classroom, and therefore can be considered a cost-effective supplementary measure where the total ventilation airflow rate is insufficient.”
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S9KdYKyu2ynK1J-D9L9TSRNf4klUyL29/view?usp=sharing
Health equity should be a top priority for all Arizona schools. Parents who can afford it are currently purchasing air purifiers for classrooms in higher socioeconomic regions of our state. Arizona schools have an ethical obligation to utilize federal dollars meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Research has shown that portable HEPA filters are a key part of a layered mitigation strategy for dramatically reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne viruses (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7027e1.htm). Funding for these portable filtration systems provides a one time opportunity to invest in both the short and long-term health of all students.
Purchasing air purifiers is a long term investment for all students and staff. In addition to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne viruses (e.g. colds, flu, RSV, etc.), benefits include increased test scores, cognitive function, decrease in asthma and respiratory symptoms, decrease in missed school days for students and staff and decrease in illness absence. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLmva6dLVTCHDsXYeZYgkwVUrRiytOgW/view?usp=sharing
In solidarity & gratitude,
The Right2SafeSchools Team
Twitter: @Right2SafeSchoolsAZ
Website: Right2safeschoolsAZ.org