8/20/08 Code Orange Health Watch for Today!

Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

CODE ORANGE HEALTH WATCH

UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 is forecast to be a CODE ORANGE day (101-150 on AQI index). Levels of pollution are forecast to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. People at risk include:

• Children who are active outdoors
• Adults of all ages exercising or working outdoors
• People with asthma or other respiratory conditions
• People with unusual susceptibility to air pollution

You can help by following these pollution-reducing suggestions:

Reduce Fuel Use:

• Drive less by combining errands
• Drive at slower speeds
• Postpone using gasoline-powered lawn equipment
• Keep your engines properly tuned
• Keep tires properly inflated
• Refuel after 6 p.m.
• Don’t top off your gasoline tank

Reduce Energy Consumption:

• Turn off lights
• Turn thermostats up 2-4 degrees
• Keep blinds drawn to block out sun

Find Alternate Methods of Transportation:

• Walk or bike (before noon and after 6:00 p.m.)
• Use public transportation
• Carpool
• Van pool

Don’t Burn Anything

You can reduce your exposure to pollution by:

• planning strenuous activity when pollution levels are forecast to be lower
• reducing the amount of time spent at vigorous activity
• choosing a less strenuous activity (e.g., going for a walk instead of a jog)

Over half of the population is at risk. Please limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

See you soon,

Brian