Dangerous Chemicals at School

Who keeps track of the chemicals at your child's school? Do you think this is a problem?

From ABC: Schools are supposed to be a safe haven for kids, but researchers say at many schools, students are being exposed to dangerous chemicals and enough isn't being done to protect them.

Chemical accidents happen in places like school labs, car repair shops and maintenance areas. but people who work there aren't being told enough about the health risks of hazardous substances and how to prevent them.

The federal "hazardous substances emergency events surveillance system" says recent data shows more than 60 percent of chemical incidents reported at elementary and secondary schools are caused by mistakes in the handling of chemicals. 30 percent of the incidents resulted in at least one serious injury. The report says government agencies, private companies and community leaders need to work with schools to increase awareness and help with the removal of outdated, unknown or unneeded chemicals.

I guess I just assumed the teachers who use chemicals are monitored. It seem crazy to think they could just bring in anything and hopefully nothing will blow up. I can't imagine that's the case at every school. What do you think?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.