New Recess Guidelines for Bad Air Days

Things are easier today for school leaders and parents who want to keep children safe on bad air days. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH), the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and other community partners have updated air quality guidelines for recess during inversions.
“As a mother, I don’t want to send my children out to play when it isn’t healthy for them,” said Cherise Udell, a mother in Salt Lake School District. “This guidance is important because it lets me know schools are aware of the air quality and that they are trying their their best to protect kids.”
The guidance recommends that when pollutants known as particulate matter (PM 2.5) measure 35.5–55.4, micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3), sensitive students should avoid outdoor activities. Sensitive students may include those with poorly controlled asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, or compromised immune systems. For PM 2.5 readings between 55.5–90 ug/m3, outdoor activities should be restricted for any student experiencing respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. When the PM 2.5 level is above 90 ug/m3, all children should be kept inside for physical activity.
“The need for air quality guidance came to our attention in 2004 when we began to realize there was no coordinated source of information for Utah schools to address air pollution in relation to school activities,” said Dr. George Delavan, Director of the UDOH Division of ommunity and Family Health Services. “Changes were made to the guidance based on new science and experience,” says DEQ Toxicologist Steve Packham, Ph.D.
The new guidance offers three improvements:
1. It aligns with recommendations from the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Standard for PM2.5;
2. It allows greater flexibility in allowing healthy students to benefit from outdoor exercise; and
3. It provides a conservative level of protection when outdoor activities are not recommended for all students.
The air quality guidance is not a law, mandate or policy, but was developed as a strategy for school districts to use when deciding whether to keep students inside or outside on poor air quality days.
For more information on the guidance visit http://health.utah.gov/asthma/ or
http://www.airquality.utah.gov/
For more information on how to improve air quality visit www.cleanair.utah.gov or
http://www.idlefree.utah.gov/.

New Truth in Tobacco Ads--Smokerman

It with great excitement that I share with you the new youth anti-tobacco campaign ads titled “Smokerman.” These ads are going statewide and feature a toy named Smokerman who can’t keep pace with other action figures because of the health effects from his tobacco use. The ads were designed to engage kids aged twelve-and-under and to stimulate conversation between parent and child about the dangers of tobacco use. You can view all 5 ads on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/TRUTHAgainstTobacco. Please share this URL with your colleagues, friends, and family. And feel free to post comments there as well.