Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach

Background: Paying attention to physical, health and safety issues in educational environments is the most effective and fundamental factor for physical, mental and psychological development of students. Therefore, one of the most important and effective health issues of the school is to observe env...

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Main Authors: Mehdi Vosoughi, Abdollah Dargahi, Parvin Teymouri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Negah Institute for Scientific Communication 2020-02-01
Series:Health in Emergencies & Disasters Quarterly
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-226-en.html
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author Mehdi Vosoughi
Abdollah Dargahi
Parvin Teymouri
author_facet Mehdi Vosoughi
Abdollah Dargahi
Parvin Teymouri
author_sort Mehdi Vosoughi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Paying attention to physical, health and safety issues in educational environments is the most effective and fundamental factor for physical, mental and psychological development of students. Therefore, one of the most important and effective health issues of the school is to observe environmental health and safety. This study was conducted with the aim of surveying the environmental health and safety of schools in Khalkhal city with a crisis management approach. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study with cross sectional design. The study population consists of all primary, middle and high schools in Khalkhal city (n=28). For sampling, census method was used. Data collection tool was an 87-item checklist that surveys the health status of schools and its classrooms in terms of health and safety facilities. It was completed by visiting schools and observing, interviews and measurements. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS and Excel software. Results: 10% of schools had newly constructed buildings and 90% had old buildings. The minimum required area per student was observed in all schools. The green space area required for each student is 0.5 square meters, which was not observed in 73.83% of schools. Only 87.5% of schools had one toilet for every 40 students. Sewage disposal in 98% of schools was hygienic, and 100% of schools had sanitary trash cans. In 60% of the schools, the toilets did not meet the hygiene standards. In 84% of the schools, the number of washbasins was proportional to the number of students (1 per 60). All the classrooms had maximum use of natural light. Moreover, in most schools, health policies, safety policies and emergency and personal hygiene standards were met. Conclusion: Most schools in Khalkhal city were at moderate level in terms of environmental health and safety and compliance with national school environmental health regulations as well as being prepared to deal with emergencies and crises which indicates a need for more attention and support from the relevant authorities for improving their status.
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spelling doaj.art-da7d3c3c34bf49aa93b105a6b54f1c782022-12-21T20:32:42ZengNegah Institute for Scientific CommunicationHealth in Emergencies & Disasters Quarterly2345-42102345-42102020-02-01529198Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management ApproachMehdi Vosoughi0Abdollah Dargahi1Parvin Teymouri2 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkhal , Iran. Background: Paying attention to physical, health and safety issues in educational environments is the most effective and fundamental factor for physical, mental and psychological development of students. Therefore, one of the most important and effective health issues of the school is to observe environmental health and safety. This study was conducted with the aim of surveying the environmental health and safety of schools in Khalkhal city with a crisis management approach. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study with cross sectional design. The study population consists of all primary, middle and high schools in Khalkhal city (n=28). For sampling, census method was used. Data collection tool was an 87-item checklist that surveys the health status of schools and its classrooms in terms of health and safety facilities. It was completed by visiting schools and observing, interviews and measurements. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS and Excel software. Results: 10% of schools had newly constructed buildings and 90% had old buildings. The minimum required area per student was observed in all schools. The green space area required for each student is 0.5 square meters, which was not observed in 73.83% of schools. Only 87.5% of schools had one toilet for every 40 students. Sewage disposal in 98% of schools was hygienic, and 100% of schools had sanitary trash cans. In 60% of the schools, the toilets did not meet the hygiene standards. In 84% of the schools, the number of washbasins was proportional to the number of students (1 per 60). All the classrooms had maximum use of natural light. Moreover, in most schools, health policies, safety policies and emergency and personal hygiene standards were met. Conclusion: Most schools in Khalkhal city were at moderate level in terms of environmental health and safety and compliance with national school environmental health regulations as well as being prepared to deal with emergencies and crises which indicates a need for more attention and support from the relevant authorities for improving their status.http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-226-en.htmlenvironmental healthschool healthsafetycrisis management
spellingShingle Mehdi Vosoughi
Abdollah Dargahi
Parvin Teymouri
Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach
Health in Emergencies & Disasters Quarterly
environmental health
school health
safety
crisis management
title Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach
title_full Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach
title_fullStr Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach
title_short Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach
title_sort environmental health and safety assessment of schools in khalkhal city using crisis management approach
topic environmental health
school health
safety
crisis management
url http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-226-en.html
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