Eye on the Environment
You should survey the physical surroundings of the child care site that you are considering to detect troublesome environmental triggers that could cause problems. While some trigger areas, such as dust in carpets and drapes, may be more evident, other triggers, such as fumes from pesticides, may be hidden. You need to keep several key trigger trouble areas in mind when looking for the appropriate child care placement.
Detecting Potential Triggers
The environment both inside and outside the child care site should be free of or have reduced amounts of known allergens and irritants, including dust mites, molds, mildew, pollen, cockroaches, and animal danders. When visiting the site, you need to discuss the needs of your child — and whether those needs can be sufficiently met by the provider.
In particular, you should determine if attempts have been made to eliminate or reduce use of plush carpets, feather pillows, stuffed animals, upholstery, or drapes; pets with fur or feathers; chalk dust; and flowering plants.
Alert!
As a parent, you also should use your nose as well to detect possible triggers inside the child care facility that could cause an asthma attack. These include fumes from cleaning products, secondhand cigarette smoke, perfumes, glue and other art supplies, wall paint, strong cooking odors, and even pesticides. Use of scented air fresheners may indicate a ventilation problem.
You can check to see if the child care provider has taken proactive steps to keep down possible asthma attacks by:
Encouraging the use of nap mats, mattress covers, or crib covers that can be easily cleaned or laundered.
Prohibiting pets such as furred animals (that produce danders) or birds in the immediate area where child care is provided.
Prohibiting smoking inside and immediately outside the facility and near the playground.
Discouraging the use of perfumes, scented cleaning products and soaps, and other products that produce odors or fumes.
Quickly repairing leaky plumbing, air conditioning, sinks, or other sources of excess water.
Promoting frequent vacuuming of carpet and upholstered furniture at times when the children are not present.
Storing all foods in airtight containers, cleaning up all spilled foods and liquids, and correctly disposing of garbage and trash.
Using integrated pest management techniques — using the least hazardous treatments first and advancing to more toxic treatments only as necessary — to get rid of pests.
Promoting use of barrier floor mats near the building entrances.
Notifying parents when carpets are cleaned, any painting is performed, or strong cleaners are used when children are present.
Outside of the child care site, attention should be paid to trees, grasses, and roadways surrounding it. While obviously unhealthy ozone levels and high pollen counts can't be eliminated, special alternatives should be put in place when a child should stay indoors to avoid potential allergens.
Also look at the traffic patterns around the school. Sometimes school buses, vans, or cars waiting for children or commercial vehicles making pickups or deliveries may idle their engines close to areas where children play or congregate. This produces exhaust that could pose problems for the asthmatic child. Some states have laws that prohibit this. Ask the child care facility what rules and policies are in place about idling vehicles, and also see yourself if this is being observed.
Conditioned Air
Also look at how the heating, ventilation, and air condition systems are used, and check how they are maintained. Improperly maintained systems can pose a serious threat to the child with asthma. In particular, is the ventilation system able to remove — rather than recycle — allergens and irritants back into the air? Are vents free of dust and dirt? Are the vents clearly visible throughout the child care facility, or are they hidden behind shelves, furniture, or books?
You should ask when windows at the child care site are open, and if so, for how long. While open windows may mean fresh air, they also may mean pollens coming in from trees and grasses and fumes from nearby auto traffic that could trigger an asthma attack.
Also, some inadequate air condition systems may create condensation that leaks through walls and ceilings. Likewise, dripping pipes and drains in bathrooms may create standing water. The lingering presence of water usually is accompanied by molds and mildews, which also may cause breathing problems.
