What is a Mums for Lungs Clean Air School?
Mums for Lungs Clean Air Schools understand and promote the importance of clean air for children’s health and take action to reduce air pollution around their schools. They encourage their families to walk or cycle to school rather than drive.
Why are schools becoming Clean Air Schools?
Schools are the centre point of many journeys, which means they are where a lot of air pollution is focused. They are also where large numbers of children spend their day. Air pollution affects little lungs’ development and is linked to asthma as well as other chronic diseases which develop in adulthood.
This is why it’s important that schools do what they can to reduce driving, to reduce air pollution, to positively affect children’s health and attainment.
How do cars affect children?
Image credit: Nick Cunard
Cars create air pollution from their exhausts (nitrogen dioxide - N02, a gas) and fine dust from their tyres and brakes (particulate matter - PM2.5).
Children are particularly affected by air pollution as their lungs are still developing and they breathe more often and more deeply than grown-ups.
They are also shorter, so closer to the ground where there is more pollution from vehicle exhaust and dust.
What happens when we drive to school?
School traffic contributes to pushing the road network to capacity, creating congestion and air pollution. High levels of pollution around a school means:
Children are exposed to up to five times more air pollution on the school run than at any other time.
Playgrounds next to main roads can have similar levels of air pollution.
Cars queuing at drop off can increase fine dust by 300% on school premises.
Air pollution affects children’s academic achievement and working memory
Lots of cars on the road make it more difficult for people to walk or cycle.
What happens if we travel actively to school?
Image credit: Manley Bike Train
Walking, scooting or cycling to school is a great start to the day.
It helps children build bone density and muscle strength as well as brain power.
It is part of the hour of exercise a child needs everyday, making it easy to ensure your child is fit and healthy.
Being active improves focus, self esteem, motivation and it energises children.
What does becoming a Mums for Lungs Clean Air School involve?
Including information on the importance of clean air for children, families and the community in the school’s onboarding pack for new pupils.
Including information on the health and air pollution benefits of travelling to school by bike, scooter or foot on the new starter webpage.
Sending out air pollution flyers and regular information in the school newsletter.
Mums for Lungs will run a school assembly on air pollution each year.
The School Leadership supports schemes that reduce traffic and air pollution around schools, from School Streets to Controlled Parking Zones.