Comprehensive hygienic assessment of the conditions of pupils stay in the shelters of a general secondary education institution

Abstract

Abstract: in connection with the beginning of a full-scale war of the aggressor country against Ukraine, staying in shelters and bomb shelters has, unfortunately, become an integral part of our lives. That is why it is very important that the premises allocated for these needs meet the minimum hygienic requirements, especially regarding educational institutions and pupils’ health. The physical and chemical parameters of the environment of a typical shelter of a general secondary education institution (lighting, noise, vibration, air quality) were measured and assessed. The research methods used in our work are descriptive, content analysis, instrumental, full-scale hygienic experiment, sanitary examination, lighting, chemical, and statistical. The studied physical and chemical factors of the educational environment are important components for ensuring a healthy educational environment and an effective educational process. Appropriate assessment and management of the levels of physical and chemical parameters in school shelters are key to ensuring the quality of education and children’s health in the educational process. Legislative aspects requiring intervention and correction measures were identified. Gaps in the legislative field were identified regarding the standardization of local vibration parameters for children in educational institutions both in peacetime in general and wartime in particular. During measurements using modern mobile equipment, it was possible to establish unsatisfactory parameters of local vibration that occurred at pupils’ workplaces while performing written tasks. If implemented, such a convenient mechanism for monitoring local vibration levels at their workplaces will allow timely interventional preventive measures to improve the condition of educational furniture in shelter rooms and common classrooms. Factors that deviated from the recommended values and may negatively affect the health of children and staff of secondary education institutions were identified. The noise level exceeded medical and sanitary standards, especially during the operation of power-generating equipment, which may negatively affect the health and concentration of students. The obtained noise indicators did not comply with the hygienic standards of State Sanitary Norms and Rules under the condition of operation of power generating equipment (the normative value should not exceed 40 dB). The maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of CO2 did not comply with the recommended values for general-purpose premises (within 0.07-0.1%), as it increased after classes, exceeding the recommended values for general-purpose premises. This may affect the health of schoolchildren and impair their attention during studies.