### 7-9c The Human Touch: Critical Thinking Exercise

The following story and questions are designed to stimulate critical thinking through class discussion or as a brief essay response. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.

Sylvia Gaylord works as a legal aide on the 12th floor of a tall glass-and-steel monument to modern architectural technology. On clear days, the views are spectacular. From her cubicle, Sylvia’s eye catches the edge of the beautiful blue-and-white skyscraper as she reaches for her inhaler. This is the third attack since she returned from lunch 4 hours ago—her asthma is really bad today. But if she leaves work early again, her boss will write her up for it. Sylvia concentrates on breathing normally.

Her roommate, Kelly, is a respiratory therapist at the county hospital. Kelly says Sylvia’s asthma attacks are probably triggered by the city’s high level of air pollution. That can’t be true. They both run in the park every morning before work, and Sylvia rarely needs to use her inhaler. The problems start when she gets to work. The wheezing and coughing were so bad today that by the time she got up the elevator and into her cubicle, she could hardly breathe.

Last night, the cable news ran a story on the unhealthy air found in some buildings. They called it "sick building syndrome" and reported that certain employees developed allergic reactions just by breathing the air. "Hmmm," she thought, "It seems like more and more people are getting sick in our office. John has had the flu twice. Sid’s bronchitis turned into bronchopneumonia, and Hui complains of sinusitis. Could this building have an air quality problem?"

#### Suggested Discussion Topics:

1. Discuss which environmental factors might cause an asthma attack.
2. Discuss what Sylvia might do to find out if her building has an air quality problem.
3. What factors did Sylvia and Kelly consider as possible triggers for Sylvia’s frequent attacks?
4. If Sylvia’s inhaler does not control her attack and her condition worsens, what steps should be taken promptly? Why?

Sylvia's asthma attacks at work suggest sick building syndrome, requiring air quality assessment in her building. Emergency medical aid is crucial if her inhaler fails to control an attack.

Sylvia Gaylord's experiences in the office may suggest that she is impacted by her workplace environment, which could be a case of sick building syndrome. As she suffers from asthma attacks primarily while at work, it is plausible that indoor air pollutants or poor ventilation within the building could be triggering her asthma. To determine if her building has an air quality problem, Sylvia could request an indoor air quality assessment, which might involve air sampling and inspection of air handling systems.

If Sylvia's inhaler is insufficient to control her attack and her condition worsens, it is critical to take immediate action. She should seek emergency medical assistance, as severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Factors considered by Sylvia and Kelly include outdoor air pollution and potential allergens, but the timing of Sylvia's symptoms points to indoor environmental issues.