The Air Quality Flag Program for Schools
The
Air Quality
Flag Program
Melissa Payne
US EPA
July 12, 2016
Content
Background on the flag program
How the AQFP works
EPA resources
2
History
2004- present: San Joaquin
Valley starts school flag
program
2010: EPA creates a national
program for schools
May 2015: Expanded to
include other organizations
3
How it Works
School raises a flag each day
The flag color indicates the local air quality for the day
Students and staff look to the flag and understand what
it means
Guidance on what to do when the air quality is poor
4
5
AQFP: 4 Steps
Purchase flags
Educate school and community
Check the daily forecast & fly the flag
Follow the outdoor activity guidance
6
1. Buy Flags
Around $100
Funding: PTA, local health organization, business,
state air agencies, EPA regions, grants
Order from local flag vendor or online
Set of five flags: green, yellow, orange,
red, purple
7
2. Educate
Recruit teacher(s) to be the Coordinator(s)
Teachers, staff, students and parents
Inform the school and community:
Newsletters
Emails
Flyers
Local newspaper
Radio station
Word-of-mouth
8
3. Check the Air Quality
Forecast
Local paper/ TV weather report
Check
www.airnow.gov
Automatic email:
www.airnow.gov/enviroflash
Free air quality app
Free widget: post the air quality forecast on
your school website
9
4. Follow the Guidance
Use the activity chart
Dose = Concentration x Breathing rate x Time
Concentration – amount of pollutant in air
Breathing rate – how fast you breathe
Time - time spent outdoors
Pay attention to symptoms
Activity Guidelines
11
r
GOOD
Great day to be active outside!
MODERATE
Good day to be active outside!
Students who are unusually sensitive
to air pollution could have symptoms.*
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Time for Fun
Events,
games,
contests,
and more!
12
13
Flag Website
Fact sheet
Coordinator’s handbook
Parent letter
Lesson plans
Poster
Press release template
Student activities
Registration form
List of participating organizations
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Other Air Quality Resources
More resources are available at
www.airnow.gov/teachers:
Online curricula
Interactive games
Air quality simulator
Children’s online picture book
14
For More Information:
Donna Rogers, Team Lead-
rogers.donna@epa.gov
Melissa Payne, Outreach-
payne.melissa@epa.gov
15
Melissa Payne, Air Quality Flag Program team
Who has ever heard of an Air Quality action day, or heard the air quality is orange or red today? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today.
Who has heard of the FP, outside of this conference? Let’s see a show of hands. Does anyone already have a flag program at your school? (what school)
Learn about the Air Quality Flag Program (AQFP) initiated by the US EPA to raise awareness about local air quality conditions in schools and communities. Explore how the program works, its history, implementation steps, and guidelines on purchasing, educating, checking forecasts, and following outdoor activity guidance.
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Presentation Transcript
The Air Quality Flag Program Melissa Payne US EPA July 12, 2016
Content Background on the flag program How the AQFP works EPA resources 2
History 2004- present: San Joaquin Valley starts school flag program 2010: EPA creates a national program for schools May 2015: Expanded to include other organizations 3
How it Works School raises a flag each day The flag color indicates the local air quality for the day Students and staff look to the flag and understand what it means Guidance on what to do when the air quality is poor 4
AQFP: 4 Steps Purchase flags Educate school and community Check the daily forecast & fly the flag Follow the outdoor activity guidance 6
1. Buy Flags Around $100 Funding: PTA, local health organization, business, state air agencies, EPA regions, grants Order from local flag vendor or online Set of five flags: green, yellow, orange, red, purple 7
2. Educate Recruit teacher(s) to be the Coordinator(s) Teachers, staff, students and parents Inform the school and community: Newsletters Emails Flyers Local newspaper Radio station Word-of-mouth 8
3. Check the Air Quality Forecast Local paper/ TV weather report Check www.airnow.gov Automatic email: www.airnow.gov/enviroflash Free air quality app Free widget: post the air quality forecast on your school website 9
4. Follow the Guidance Use the activity chart Dose = Concentration x Breathing rate x Time Concentration amount of pollutant in air Breathing rate how fast you breathe Time - time spent outdoors Pay attention to symptoms
Activity Guidelines Students who are unusually sensitive to air pollution could have symptoms.* It s OK to be active outside, especially for short activities such as recess and PE. For longer activities such as athletic practice, take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms and take action as needed.*Students with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep their quick-relief medicine handy. Consider moving longer or more intense activities indoors or rescheduling them to another day or time. 11
Time for Fun Events, games, contests, and more! 12
Flag Website www.airnow.gov/flag Fact sheet Coordinator s handbook Parent letter Lesson plans Poster Press release template Student activities Registration form List of participating organizations 13
Other Air Quality Resources More resources are available at www.airnow.gov/teachers: Online curricula Interactive games Air quality simulator Children s online picture book 14
For More Information: Donna Rogers, Team Lead- rogers.donna@epa.gov Melissa Payne, Outreach- payne.melissa@epa.gov 15
