Ideally, the consumer/worker right for improved ventilation in communal spaces like schools and public transport would come from the EU level as this is a global issue. As the EU has many older buildings with poor ventilation, this is a particular problem for the EU.

The sooner the Irish State addresses our lack of ventilation infrastructure in our public transport and schools, the better for everyone, especially children. The cycle of year-round respiratory infections could end if we improved ventilation in communal spaces.

#FridayAirday #CleanTheAir

With exponentially rising flu cases affecting children in Ireland right now, schools with poor ventilation as in the above example, are contributing to the rapid spread of infection. The students and teachers making their way home on the bus may go on to spread infection into the wider community.

It should be noted that this school is in breach of the HSA Code of Conduct for Indoor Air Quality which is supposed to protect the health of employees in the workplace. www.hsa.ie/eng/publicat...

Not only are these high CO2 levels bad for creating a good learning environment; these CO2 levels indicate very poor ventilation in the classroom, and is a perfect environment for spreading airborne pathogens.

As seen in the graph, this teacher recorded high CO2 levels in their home before leaving the house. CO2 peaked at 3809 ppm on the bus. Their class (of 30 students) had CO2 levels peaking at 2900 ppm. CO2 above 2,000ppm can cause headaches, fatigue, stagnant, poor concentration & loss of focus.

The HSA Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality is to protect employees' health through practical measures and to facilitate employers' compliance with legal requirements.

It applies to all workplaces.

The Code of Practice is available here: www.hsa.ie/eng/publicat...

The above advice is directed at protecting the Health and Safety of healthcare workers.

We look forward to similar advice being issued to School Boards of Management for the Health and Safety of school staff and students.

That is some good air quality right there! Very envious over here in the northern hemisphere with our decaying vegetation and normalised burning of solid fuels to warm homes 🥲.

CO2 increases rapidly in bedrooms overnight, where windows cannot be kept open. It is good practise to open the window first thing every morning to air out the space.

#FridayAirday #CleanTheAir

Funding to improve and upgrade ventilation and air filtration across schools and healthcare settings in Ireland must be allocated as a matter of urgency.

#CleanTheAir

www.farmersjournal.ie/life/health/...

We are 6 years on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know how damaging this virus is and we know how it spreads - through the air.
Our political leaders must launch a public health campaign to inform people of the risk of covid infections/reinfections and on how to reduce the spread.