No Idle Zone

No Idle Zone ...
Coming to a school near you!

Have you ever left your car running while picking up your children or grandchildren from school? If so, you are not alone. Consider this: A single vehicle dropping off and picking up kids at one school puts three pounds of pollution into the air per month.

This pollution contains a nasty mix of small particles and chemicals that are considered "hazardous."  Exposure to car exhaust increases the risk of heart and lung problems. 

Children are most vulnerable. Children breathe more air—50% more—per pound of body weight than adults and their lungs are still developing. Exposure to vehicle exhaust is linked to asthma. Ironically, one of the areas where unnecessary idling often occurs is at school. Research funded by the Washington State Department of Ecology, revealed that most idling at schools occurs during the afternoon pick-up time. This is why the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, and the American Lung Association of Washington, Spokane Office, are facilitating the "No Idle Zone —It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air" at area schools.

School Program
Beginning in January 2008, a full time AmeriCorps coordinator will be on board to sign up elementary schools interested in participating in the program.  Interested middle schools may also sign on to the program. It's really quite simple to participate. As a school, you agree to:

• Post two "No Idle Zone Signs" (as pictured above) in the student drop-off/pick-up areas. These signs are provided free-of-charge.
  
  
• Distribute information to school families about idling and the No Idle Zone program. This includes a Cover Letter, an Idling Fact Sheet, and an optional "Parent/Student" pledge form. All print materials and thank you incentives are provided free-of-charge to each participating school.
  
  
• Schools also have the option of engaging their students in math and science activities, such as data collection and analysis by conducting pre and post program observations of idling behavior. Most schools that have implemented the program have seen a dramatic decrease in vehicle idling at their school.
  
  
• If the school is interested, information geared toward drivers of school buses and delivery vehicles is available. These drivers can "make a pledge not to idle unnecessarily" and receive a thank-you keyring as well. 

Sign up today!
This program is available to all Spokane County elementary schools. To participate, contact Tom Brattebo, Program Coordinator, 477-4727, ext. #126 or email him: tbrattebo@spokanecleanair.org

This program is proudly sponsored by:

A special thanks!
Thank you to Spokane Transit Authority for supporting the No Idle Zone Program.