Plan an informative assembly for students, faculty, and parents. You will need to contact the school district administration and/or principal to organize an event. Things to do at the event include:
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Create educational activities about toxic substances and MCS.
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Plan an age appropriate contest for the children, such as an essay, drawing, photo, or poster contest.
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Discuss MCS triggers and simple accommodations.
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Discuss prevalence and risk management for those not yet affected by MCS.
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Emphasize that MCS is real, the result of environmental toxicity.
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Read enlightening, short, patient stories about life with MCS to children.
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Invite local celebrities, musicians, artists, activists, researchers, and treating physicians to speak at the assembly.
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Consider finding sponsors to donate prizes for games, contests, and activities.
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Pass out educational materials, brochures, signs, and posters. Some may be found at: http://www.mcs-america.org/index_files/MCSBrochuresPostersSigns.htm.
Plan a gathering with refreshments for faculty. Things to do at the gathering include:
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Introduce a suggested fragrance free policy.
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Introduce a suggested green cleaning policy.
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Discuss the handling of MCS reactions during school.
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Plan awareness notices to be sent to parents and posted on bulletin boards.
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Encourage faculty to discuss MCS in health and science classes.
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Plan the inclusion of health topics, including MCS, in schools newsletters and bulletins.
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Pass out educational materials, brochures, signs, and posters. Some may be found at: http://www.mcs-america.org/index_files/MCSBrochuresPostersSigns.htm.
Ten Ways to Manage MCS Reactions at School
(Download Fact Sheet from: http://www.mcs-america.org/TenWaystoManageMCSReactionsatSchool.pdf)
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Switch over to an integrative pest management program which utilizes the least toxic pest control methods only when pests are spotted.
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Provide adequate ventilation, an air filtration system, and clean air ducts monthly.
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Use non-toxic, fragrance free, green cleaning products in place of traditional industrial cleaning agents when students and faculty are not in the building.
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Check for moisture and remove mold and mildew.
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Make the campus fragrance free and smoke free.
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Offer healthier organic selections and special diet fulfillment in the cafeteria.
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Allow students to take needed supplements and medications on schedule.
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Minimize diesel exhaust from school buses and ensure that exhaust is not vented into the building or onto the playground.
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Hold annual training seminars about caring for students with MCS for faculty, administrators, and the school nurse.
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When building and remodeling, select the safest building materials with the least formaldehyde and other off-gassing agents. Place students with known MCS in older classrooms which have not been painted or remodeled in the last 3 years.
Ten Things Faculty Can Do During a Reaction
(Download Fact Sheet from: http://www.mcs-america.org/TenThingsFacultyCanDoWhenaStudentHasanMCSReaction.pdf)
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Immediately remove the student from the source of exposure.
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Help the student wash exposed skin and hair with their own safe soap.
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Help the student change into spare clothing if clothing has become contaminated.
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Contact the parents.
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Give the student breathing room and lots of fresh air.
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Reassure the student and ask them what they may need.
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Investigate what happened and, later, take measures to avoid a recurrence.
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Call an ambulance if breathing becomes raspy or tremors/seizures occur.
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Be patient with the student during the period of cognitive impairment during and after an exposure.
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Monitor the student’s ability to move about normally and take safety precautions during and after exposures when coordination and balance may be impaired.
For more articles on this topic, see: MCSA News.
Copyrighted 2011 Lourdes Salvador & MCS America
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