Day care has become a necessity for millions of American families. Studies suggest that children in a day care environment are four times more susceptible to upper respiratory viruses than children staying at home. According to Medline, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, day care centers pose an increased health risk for children and staff because of the exposure to other children who may be sick. Also, children can be exposed to some things in the air that are not present in their own home environment that can trigger other respiratory ailments. That makes sense. So, what can be done?

Some progressive daycare and private pre-schools around the country are doing something to lessen these odds. These facilities are providing a healthy environment of clean, purified air inside their buildings, using a unique and safe technology to eliminate many of the harmful things in the air that children breathe, as well as up to 99.9% of mold and bacteria on surfaces. They realized that they can do something to stop the spread of many illnesses.

The results are healthier, livelier, more alert infants and children that are more responsive to learning and a healthier, happier staff. These schools have also seen fewer sick days for both children and staff. Children can contract or trigger existing respiratory ailments such as asthma, allergies, colds and chronic fatigue created by the air they breathe indoors and by being in close contact with one another. And, children are spending almost 90% of their time indoors. Pollen and air pollution and smog are all present outdoors during those Red Alert days. But the fact is that we have effectively sealed our children inside with some very harmful things in the process of conserving energy. IAQ, or Indoor Air Quality, is a key concern these days.

Many of the major health agencies, including the EPA, World Health Organization and CDC are concerned about the quality of our indoor air. Indoor air pollution consists of three major categories:

? Particulates- are dust, dander, soot, pollen and smoke particles

? Gases/Odors- can include toluene, benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene, chloroform, acetone, etc. that are released from furniture, insulation and cleaning chemicals and insect sprays, not to mention pollution particles dragged in on our clothes. Many of these are carcinogenic.

? Microbes- are bacteria, germs, viruses, fungi, spores and mold.

Mechanical filters, even HEPA filters, can clean the air of most of the particulates, but they are 'passive' and the air must be pulled through a device to treat it. In addition, these filters have to be cleaned or replaced frequently and can be quite expensive. If they are serviced frequently they can even be the source of contaminants themselves. Scented candles and sprays can eliminate some of the odors, but not the harmful gases, and, once again are local fixes. HEPA filters and electrostatic filters that are called purifiers are not effective in removing odors. Simple UV duct probes have had limited success in this area. None of these can kill microbials or mold/mildew. Disinfectant sprays and cleaning can treat areas for a short period of time, in an immediate area, but the problem can return. Many public facilities mistakenly think that they are solving the problem of mold and mildew by having their carpets periodically steam cleaned, but are simply covering it up with a fragrance and are actually providing additional moisture that can accelerate mold growth.

There is technology available, however, that treats the air electronically. It is a free standing "active" system that is proven safe and affordable, does not require changing filter elements and it does not require the air to be drawn to a device. It not only treats the air efficiently, but also removes odors AND, recent university testing has demonstrated substantial reduction in microbial populations on surfaces. This effective technology has become widely accepted since it's use by the government during the 9/11 Pentagon cleanup and is currently in use in several government facilities. It is certified by the Space Foundation and is available to the general public through authorized independent distributors. It is currently available to make your home or business a healthier place to live. To learn more about this healthy technology and business opportunity visit www.freshair2u.info.

Bruce Bley is founder of BCB Associates, a marketing and environmental consulting firm that deals with issues pertaining to family health and wellness and provides leadership training to affiliates. He has a B.S. Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and MBA from University of Hartford.