According to a Dec. 1 article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, civic leaders in Atlanta are engaged in a dual battle against asthma and childhood obesity. One component of this effort is to increase awareness when Atlanta's air quality is poor, so that teachers and parents can make alternative plans to keep kids active:
[Nov. 29] Tuesday at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Mayor Kasim Reed and Elder Bernice King joined with Mothers & Others for Clean Air to launch a new school initiative that helps battle both asthma and obesity.
The school Air Quality Index flag program will make air quality visible to the entire school community with large, colored flags that fly daily reflecting the day’s air quality. Green is good; yellow means moderate; orange is unhealthy; and red is very unhealthy.
The flag program visually alerts children, teachers, coaches, administrators and parents about Atlanta’s smog each day by highlighting good air quality days as well as bad ones. ... Physical education teachers and coaches can make schedule and location changes to reduce exposure and reduce risk when air quality is poor.
Posted By: CRC Health
