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Santa Clara County Medical Association Adopts Best Practices For Screens in Schools

Aug 4, 2023

Breaking News from Physicians For Safe Technology

The Santa Clara County California Medical Association Adopts Best Practices For Screens in Schools Addressing Cell Phones, Blue Light and Wireless Radiation

In  2023 the Santa Clara County Medical Association adopted  Recommendations for Best Practices for Safe Technology in Schools in order to educate physicians, school officials and teachers of the complex health risks and potential health hazards of digital and wireless technology in schools. The group examined research on the broad impacts of digital technology including health and neurologic effects of exposure to wireless radiation, eye effects, mental health effects and impacts on academic performance. Recognizing the importance of protecting children’s health in all environments, including schools several recommendations for best practices were advised.

Santa Clara County Medical Association School Best Practices Recommendations includes: 

  • Creating a “Safe Tech in Schools Program” to educate students and staff on how to use devices safely and reduce wireless use in the classroom
  • Using blue light reduction methods to reduce eye strain
  • Establishing and promoting school cell phone-free policies
  • Preferring and installing hard-wired ethernet devices instead of wireless wherever possible
  • Consulting with an RF professional who can measure radiofrequency radiation
  • Avoiding installation of smart meters on school premises
  • Considering a policy to restrict installation of cell towers on school property

“Children deserve safe technology and a healthy school environment.  All schools should adopt these common sense actions” stated Theodora Scarato Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust whose resources on schools include: FAQS on Wi-Fi in Schools, Action Toolkit, Screen Resources, Classroom Educational Resources. 

The SCCMA now joins many other organizations who have researched this issue and who also recommend precautionary measures to reduce exposures to wireless emissions and distraction from digital devices including:

In 2011 the European Council passed Resolution 1815 on “The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment.” They recommend concerning the protection of children: 8.3.1. develop within different ministries (education, environment and health) targeted information campaigns aimed at teachers, parents and children to alert them to the specific risks of early, ill-considered and prolonged use of mobiles and other devices emitting microwaves; 8.3.2. for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren on school premises;

The  2023 paper “Wireless technologies, non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and children: Identifying and reducing health risks”  published in Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care also includes a list of best practices for schools.