American Lung Association Launches Toolkit for Healthier Classrooms

The organization’s "Lung Friendly Schools" initiative provides parents and administrators with actionable guides on air quality and tobacco-free policy implementation. With 6.1 million children under 18 currently living with asthma—a primary driver of absenteeism—the group is pushing programs like "Open Airways for Schools" to help staff manage medication and environmental triggers. Beyond asthma, the initiative targets the rising prevalence of youth vaping through intervention programs such as INDEPTH and NOT, which serve as alternatives to traditional disciplinary suspension.

Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, emphasized that safeguarding youth health requires a collaborative effort spanning students, caregivers, and school personnel. The organization is also advocating for increased Congressional funding for the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program to expand state-level monitoring and reduce emergency room visits. As September approaches, the group is stressing the importance of routine vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, noting that respiratory infections frequently exacerbate asthma symptoms during the start of the academic term.