Emerson ElementaryIdle Free Awareness Week

What is Idling?What is Idling?

Idling is letting an engine run when the vehicle isn’t going anywhere, like when you are:

Waiting to pick someone up at Waiting to pick someone up at school…school…

Waiting at a drive-through Waiting at a drive-through window…window…

Letting the car ‘warm up’ in the Letting the car ‘warm up’ in the drivewaydriveway

So, being ‘Idle Free’ So, being ‘Idle Free’ means:means:Turning the engine OFF when you won’t be

driving for 10 seconds

or more

Why not idle?Why not idle?Idling is bad for

everyone’s health

Driving warms up an engine faster and better than idling does

Eliminating 5 minutes of idling a day can save $30 to $60 a year

Why not idle?Why not idle?It wastes moneyIt gets you no whereIt’s bad for our lungs

What is air pollution?What is air pollution?Air pollution is anything that makes our air dirty or less healthy to breathe.

Why is air pollution especially Why is air pollution especially bad for kid’s lungs?bad for kid’s lungs?

Children are outside playing more than adults

Children have faster respiratory rates than adults

Children breathe in 20% to 50% more air, and more air pollution, than adults

OZONEInvisible!

PM 2.5Tiny particles that

look like a gross blanket over our

valley

Utah has two basic typesUtah has two basic types of air pollution of air pollution

SUMMERTIME WINTERTIME

Over exposure to ozone can Over exposure to ozone can cause or trigger asthma in cause or trigger asthma in

childrenchildren

Asthma is the most common chronic illness and children and the

cause of most school absences.

Ozone exposure can Ozone exposure can cause:cause:

LUNG IRRITATIONWheezingCoughingPain when taking a

deep breathDifficulty breathing

when playing outdoors

When you go up a canyon in When you go up a canyon in the winter, you can see the the winter, you can see the

pollution belowpollution below

In the winter, a different In the winter, a different pollutant is in our airpollutant is in our air

Particulate matter, or PM 2.5 are tiny particles of things like: ◦Soot, from chimneys◦Exhaust, from tailpipes

◦Dust, from plowing

PM 2.5 is dangerous because PM 2.5 is dangerous because it is it is veryvery small small

PM 2.5 is so small, it passes through our lungs, into our blood

This is why school kids have to stay in on “Red Air Days”

One of these tiny dots is the size of

PM 2.5, compared to a

dust particle and human hair

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?The majority of air pollution in Utah comes vehicles

Turn your key, be idle free!

If the car isn’t moving for If the car isn’t moving for how long?how long?

_____ seconds

If the car isn’t moving for If the car isn’t moving for how long?how long?

Ten seconds of idling uses more gas than

turning off and restarting the car

10 seconds!

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?If possible,

◦Carpool◦Ride a bike◦Walk to school

Don’t drive, or drive less, especially on bad air days

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?

Use less energyTurn off lights

when they’re not in use◦95% of Utah’s

power comes from coal fired power plants

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?Be in the know! Check out how

healthy the air is, or isn’t, at:

www.airquality.utah.govAsk your parents to sign up for

air quality alerts by emailWith your family, make a plan for

how you’ll protect your health and our air on bad air days