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AIR AWARENESS PROGRAM

• Governing board or management (to endorse program and appoint a staff person as point of contact)
  
• Employees of participating Air Awareness Coalition member groups
  

• Citizens acting individually
  
• Schools and educators
  

• The cost for this program tends to be at most one to two staff-hours per month, and the staff member needs not have any particular air quality expertise but rather, be in a good position to disseminate information.  Daily distribution of the Ozone Alert may take not more than 5 minutes per day, and dissemination of other educational materials may take little more time.
  
• Implementing this program can have a positive impact on an organization's productivity.  A 1995 study reported that exposure to high ozone levels for two consecutive days increased the number of asthma-related emergency visits by 68%.  Since health problems have a direct impact on employee productivity and employer health care costs, influencing employee actions on ozone alert days has a potential financial benefit to the organization.
  
• To keep costs down, use pre-packaged educational materials provided through the regional Air Awareness coordinator. 
  

• Ground-level ozone is formed by the mix of oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds that bake in the lower atmosphere on hot, sunshiny days.  That is why the Air Awareness program is most active during the summer months, known as "ozone season."
  
  
• Program components are:
  1. The ozone forecast.  May 1 - September 30. These forecasts are distributed via e-mail to

area coalition members and individuals and to local media (television, radio, and newspaper).

2. School-based outreach.

3. Regional Air Quality Coalitions. In North Carolina, coalition members multiply the NC Division of Air Quality's (NCDAQ) education efforts by distributing the ozone forecast to coalition member employees and providing education about air quality.