Healthy Schools Day 2020
is coming soon.
The upcoming campaign will focus on climate change and children’s health.
More information coming soon!
Learn more about the health effects of diesel emissions and actions to protect children:
Diesel emissions are harmful to health
Diesel emissions are a known cause of lung cancer and are linked to asthma and other health problems. Children can be more vulnerable to harm from diesel emissions.
Where kids encounter diesel emissions
Children can be exposed to diesel emissions on buses, in loading zones and adjacent playgrounds, and by breathing contaminated indoor air.
Action to protect children from diesel emissions
There are many ways to protect kids from diesel emissions, from establishing no-idling zones to replacing older buses. Parents, educators, administrators and governments all have roles to play.
1. STOP IDLING
Turn the engines off while school buses are waiting in loading zones or near school grounds.
2. AVOID BUS ‘CARAVANNING’
Ensure there is a gap between buses during travel and in loading zones to keep the exhaust of one bus from polluting the cabin air of another.
3. CHANGE THE TIMING OF SCHOOL VENTILATION
Help reduce the infiltration of diesel bus and other vehicle emissions into schools by ensuring that high ventilation periods do not occur during busy loading/unloading times or rush hour.
4. UPGRADE AND REPLACE OLD BUSES
Emissions from older buses can be improved with pollution control upgrades, and new technology diesel engines offer vastly improved emissions performance. Best of all, replace old diesel vehicles with new buses powered by cleaner energy such as electricity.
