It’s national Clean Air Day (June 17) and this year the focus is on protecting children’s health from air pollution.
Poor air quality causes heart and lung diseases, is linked to low birth weight and children’s lung development, and causes up to 36,000 deaths each year in the UK.
By raising awareness and getting families across BwD involved, we can look at ways in which we can reduce the air pollution making the environment a much safer and cleaner place for all.
The Clean Air Day campaign offers a number of resources and events that you can get involved in, and is an opportunity to reduce congestion outside school gates by choosing to walk/scoot or cycle to school a few times a week.
If more parents and children walk or cycle to school it increases our fitness levels by stealth – no need to find time to fit in extra sports sessions – more every day activity is good for all of us.
Those of us who live too far away can still do our part by parking close enough to walk those last 5 minutes together – small steps still count.
Every little helps
Consider going car free for one journey a week just to see the difference it can make – the school run could even be a good way to put the 5 Ways to Wellbeing into action, with Be Active, Take Notice and Connect all the mix.
School Streets programmes are available if your school wants to get involved in helping us create healthy streets for our borough.
Share your #CleanAirDay activities with your community using social media and tag @BwDRoads