Every year, from late February through April, Chiang Mai's air quality drops sharply. The reason is seasonal forest fires and agricultural burning across northern Thailand and across the border in Myanmar and Laos. The fine particles β known as PM 2.5 β are small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream. For young children, the impact is real.
What PM 2.5 actually does to children
Short-term: irritated eyes, runny nose, headaches, dry cough. Children with asthma or allergies feel it first. Long-term exposure during the smoke season is linked to reduced lung development, more respiratory infections, and even lower school attendance because children fall sick more often.
The reading parents should watch is the AQI (Air Quality Index). Above 100 is uncomfortable. Above 150 is unhealthy. Above 200 is when we keep students indoors for sports and PE.
What SSELC does in our boarding houses
- Air purifiers in every bedroom, running 24/7 during smoke season. We buy quality units with HEPA filters and replace the filters every season.
- Reduced outdoor time on high-AQI days β children stay inside for play and exercise.
- N95 masks provided for the daily school commute when AQI is high.
- Daily monitoring: caretakers check AQI in the morning and adjust the day's schedule.
- Hydration and vitamin C built into meals β small things that help children's bodies cope.
What parents should do at home (in Chiang Mai or Myanmar)
If your family lives in Chiang Mai too: buy one good air purifier per bedroom. The cheapest acceptable units cost around THB 4,000β6,000. Don't economise on the filters β replace them yearly.
If your child is at SSELC and you are in Myanmar: ask your child about their cough, their eyes, their sleep during March and April. We give weekly updates, but a parent's ear catches things faster than ours.
Health is the priority at SSELC. Read more about how our boarding houses operate, or contact us if you have a specific health concern about your child.