Air Quality Index (AQI) Program The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a rating system for each pollutant that establishes a relationship between the level of the pollutant and the health effects that can be experienced by individuals exposed to that pollutant. Figure 2 shows the official logo for the EPA’s AQI program that appears on their website http://www.airnow.gov announcement of day and the pollutants that are of concern. An alert will be issued for each day. Figure 2 Logo for the EPA’s Air Quality Index program

Air quality can become unhealthy due to pollutants such as ground-level ozone and particle pollution. Ozone is especially damaging to the lungs of children and those who work and play outside. Particle pollution - especially fine particles such as those found in smoke, haze or dust - contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Children (including teenagers) are at greater risk from air pollution because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. People with asthma are also more likely to have symptoms when pollution is in the air. Children, including those with asthma, can continue to stay active even when air quality is unhealthy by modifying their activities or, in some cases, moving their activities indoor. Sign up for Forecast notification @ airnow.gov or http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm Download ‘State of the Air’ app from the American Lung Association.

Flag Program - DAILY Campus will receive ONE set of colored flags – Here's how it works: each day the school raises a flag that corresponds to how clean or polluted the air is. The color of the flag matches EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI): green, yellow, orange, and red A designated campus representative will monitor CURRENT conditions and display the appropriate flag at a location of high visibility to inform students and teachers of current conditions during the school day (example - playground) Staff should understand the Outdoor Activity Guidance Table and know when to modify the activity level of students based on CURRENT conditions based on the flag being displayed Elementary students are considered a ‘sensitive’ group due to their lungs are still developing. RED levels would indicate moving all activities indoors.

Physical Activity should be maintained……

WHEN INDICATED NEISD Responses to the Air Quality Health Alert (AQHA) and the Air Quality Index (AQI) Programs from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) These notifications are sent via email the day before when it is determined that conditions are favorable for the following day. The purpose of this is for members of the community to change their behavior. Our actions during the day can greatly reduce the risk of accumulation of ozone and help us avoid reaching an unhealthy level. Such actions would include; minimize unnecessary driving, avoid refueling cars or mowing lawn with a gas powered engine, etc. When conditions are favorable for accumulation of ozone and an alert is issued, NEISD best practice is to hang the yellow banner as an awareness to the general public. Additionally this serves as a reminder to parents/bus drivers to minimize Idling.

Sample of parent notification

Educational materials, handouts, curriculum etc http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=school_flag_program.index http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=learning.forteachers

Andy Airedale posters – for printing and posting outside clinic