Becoming Air-Friendly in Cleveland County Executive Director, Alliance for Health in Cleveland County, Inc. Healthy Carolinians Conference 2010 Anne Short, MBA

Why Did We Do It? 9.7% of children had diagnosed asthma. Formed coalition in 2002 Early focus on education and community awareness Dream of on-site asthma camp

Set of Four Flags (Green, Yellow, Orange and Red) provided at no cost to sites on a voluntary basis Daily announcements from NC Division of Air Quality 2006: Air Quality Flag Project

8 Schools 3 YMCA Facilities 3 Day Care Facilities City Park Sites Health Department Initial Sites

Program Expansion through grant funding provided by NC Asthma Program

More To Do… 2008/2009: 1,109 students diagnosed with Asthma as well as 8% of adults Launched No Wheeze Cleveland County Community Awareness-posters, brochures, billboards

New Initiative Turn off Your Engine Anti-Idling Campaign encouraging residents to Think, Act, Breathe

Air Quality Information Bags, including signs, flag sets, posters, brochures and an Asthma Resource Guide to:  All 29 County Schools  3 YMCA Facilities  All County Buildings  County Senior Centers  25 Primary and Pediatric Care Providers  15 Churches  15 Child Care Facilities Still More To Do…

October 2010: Air Quality Information distributed to volunteer fire departments and EMS station sites. Identification of additional sites, presentations to school PTOs and volunteer recreation programs The Work is Ongoing

Special Thanks to NC Asthma for their continued support.

Contact Information: Anne Short, MBA Executive Director Alliance for Health in Cleveland County