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Sydney dust keeps school children indoors


Date Posted: 23-Sep-2009

This morning at Covenant Christian School the playground was deserted. On arrival all children were directed indoors to minimise exposure to dust. Doors and windows throughout the school are being kept closed for the day. Teacher's playground duties were as for wet weather.

The sun trying to shine through the dust
Children spent recess in their classrooms
Secondary students were encouraged to use the hall


Last year the NSW Rural Fire Service's hazard reductions in the area created a similar situation at the school.

The following air pollution health advisory was issues for all schools...
The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) have advised that most of NSW is predicted to experience hazardous air quality today due to high particle levels. These conditions are likely to continue tomorrow. Particle pollution is mainly caused by motor vehicles, wood burning heaters and industry. It can reach extremely high concentrations during bushfires and dust storms - the current conditions around the State appear to be caused by dust storms.

Recommendation for Schools
NSW Health recommends that children remain indoors at school as much as possible today. Windows and doors to the outside of buildings should be closed as much as possible. Vigorous physical activity should be minimised, especially outdoors, but also indoors.

Children with asthma need to follow their Asthma Action Plan and take their relieving medication where necessary. If symptoms get worse, asthma sufferers need to seek medical advice.

Please note that there has been no recommendation at this stage that schools close. However, schools should make decisions based on the level of risk to students. Keeping children indoors as much as possible should minimise the risks to health. Children with respiratory problems in particular (such as asthma), if they are attending school today, should be kept indoors and closely monitored. However, parents with a child at particular risk should be encouraged to keep their child at home if possible.
Following is further information provided by the NSW Department of Health that may be of use to schools.
For more information about air pollution and health, visit the NSW Health air pollution health alerts web page at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/PublicHealth/environment/air/aqi.asp

For more information on local air quality forecast and hourly air quality updates, visit the Department of Environment and Climate Change Air Quality Index web page at:  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/aqms/aqiforecast.htm

Who is affected?
High particulate air pollution is most likely to affect people with:
•    asthma
•    heart disease (ie. angina, partially blocked arteries, strokes)
•    lung disease (ie chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis)

Children are at risk from exposure to high levels of ozone and particles due to several factors:
•    they often spend more time playing outdoors
•    they tend to inhale and retain larger quantities of pollutants per body surface area than larger adults
•    their elevated metabolic rate and immature immune system make them more susceptible to air pollution.
How to decrease risk
Parents are advised to follow these simple steps to protect their children from air pollution:
•    Get to know how sensitive your children are to the air pollution.
•    Take note of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and see whether they have symptoms on days when the AQI is high.
•    Plan activities when and where air pollution levels are lower.
• Regular exercise is important for staying healthy, especially for children. Aim to exercise outdoors in the mornings if the AQI for ozone is high. Try to exercise away from busy roads or industrial areas.
•    Create a clean indoor air zone for your children.

Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Levels will be lower indoors. If there are symptoms of asthma, shortness of breath or cough, the child should rest and use their reliever medicine. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice

Further advice for schools will be provided as and when it comes to hand.

Yours sincerely

Dr Geoff Newcombe
Executive Director

dusty storm commented on 23-Sep-2009 05:55 PM
yea i was so dusty then in the afternoon it was perfect but u should of seen it this morning it was orange or red
zachary thornton commented on 24-Sep-2009 02:23 PM
I hardly could seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Anonymous commented on 25-Sep-2009 11:08 AM
The colour was awesome! I didn't even know it was dust until the radio told me!! I wish it would happen again, it was soo cool!!
topsey creats commented on 27-Sep-2009 08:09 PM
lol this was sick it was like God had made the world in sepia tone forever ! but i dont remenber High School teachers having wet weather duties or any kids getting moved indoors ????
anonymous commented on 28-Sep-2009 02:51 PM
when i woke up in the morning i thought that there was a fire outside my bedroom it was that red.
Thomas Bang commented on 29-Sep-2009 11:13 AM
It says on the news that no sport or physical exercises should be played! But we played dodgeball in the hall! The hall is like directly linked to the outside air! O_o

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