Indoor air quality is rarely discussed in the childcare industry, but it has a massive impact on the health of your students and staff. Commercial childcare centers are tightly sealed buildings packed with people. If your air quality is poor, respiratory illnesses will cycle endlessly through your classrooms and asthma attacks will become far more frequent.
Start by evaluating your cleaning supplies. Heavy chemical cleaners and heavily scented air fresheners release volatile organic compounds that linger in the air long after the floors are dry. Switch to fragrance-free, hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizers whenever possible. Next, check your HVAC systems. Upgrade to high-efficiency particulate air filters and change them every single month without exception. If the weather permits, simply opening the classroom windows for fifteen minutes during your morning outdoor block dramatically reduces the concentration of airborne viruses and bacteria. These low-cost changes have a measurable impact on how often your families are calling in sick.