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Hot Tips for a Cool Summer
Tips to help you and your family find ways to help reduce pollution and learn about the environment. Doing little things can go a long way to having a cool summer. Air Quality and How You Can Help Resources For Kids and Students Protect Yourself from the SunAction Steps for Sun Protection By following a number of simple
steps, you can still enjoy your time in the sun while protecting yourself
from overexposure to the sun's harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays Sunscreen: The Burning Facts (PDF, 6 pp., 957K) Here are some tips to teach you what you need to know about sunscreen http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/sunscreen.pdf Keeping Kids Safe from Sun and Smog Information about the health
effects of exposure to UV radiation; the UV Index; the Air Quality Index;
and actions you can take on Ozone
Action Days. UV Index The UV Index is a tool that provides a forecast of the
strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation for your community. Search
for your local UV Index forecast by ZIP code Sunwise EPA has developed the SunWise School Program for grades
K-8. SunWise Partner Schools sponsor activities that raise children's
awareness of pollution and sun safety practices. Air Quality and How You Can HelpHow Good is Your Air?Before you go outside see how good or bad the air is in your community.
Health effects of ozone pollution. Did you know that 10 to 20 percent of all summertime respiratory-related hospital visits in some areas of the U.S. are associated with ozone pollution? Motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are major sources of ozone, which usually forms in hot weather. Ozone pollution can affect anyone who spends time outdoors in the summer, particularly children, the elderly, outdoor workers and people exercising. Repeated exposure to ozone pollution may cause permanent damage to the lungs. Even low ozone levels can trigger health problems in some people when it is inhaled; these can include chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation, and congestion. How Your Actions Can Help: By making some fairly simple changes in your daily or weekly routine, you can help to clean the air. For instance:
Additional ideas on how to help clean the air Air Quality Information for kids in English and Spanish. For Travel and CommutingCommuting It's summertime, which means that weather conditions are favorable for ground-level ozone formation. Emissions from motor vehicles are the primary source of ozone-causing pollutants, accounting for almost half of our air pollution. Because heat and sunlight are important factors in ozone formation, ozone pollution generally peaks during the months of April through October, on hot, sunny days with little or no wind and no precipitation. On these days, it's particularly important to reduce how much you drive. Travel to work by taking public transportation, share a ride, walk or bike. Encourage your employer to become part of Best Workplaces for Commuters, a recognition and partnership program sponsored by EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation that encourages employers to offer their employees an outstanding level of commuter benefits such as tax-free transit passes, vanpool benefits, or telecommuting. If you want to know how your organization can participate, email the program, call the Best Workplaces Hotline at 1-888-856-3131, or visit the Best Workplaces for Commuters Web site at http://www.bwc.gov Green Vehicle Guide Smog is at its highest levels during the summer.
Tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks account for almost half of the
air pollution in the United States. You may be surprised to know that
you have cleaner more fuel-efficient choices in any vehicle size you need,
even an SUV. Find out for yourself. Go to the Green Vehicle Guide to find
the cleanest, most fuel efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Fuel Economy To save gasoline and money during those long vacation
trips, keep your car tuned, your tires properly inflated, and drive carefully.
See the fuel economy estimates for all cars and light trucks going back
to 1985. Refueling your vehicle Gasoline vapors are harmful to you and the environment. Not only are they toxic to breathe, they contribute to ozone formation in the atmosphere. Since gasoline vapor production increases during the hot summer months, it is important to be careful when refueling your vehicle. Here are some simple measures you can take at the gas station:
Maintaining Your Vehicle - Watch your dashboard light to prevent pollution This summer, help prevent pollution by keeping your car in tip-top shape. If your car or light truck is a 1996 or later model, it is equipped with a sophisticated computer called the "Onboard Diagnostic" (or OBD) system that helps your engine to operate at peak efficiency and will alert you to any potential problems that could cause it to work harder, wear out faster and pollute more. If the OBD system detects problems, it will trigger a "Check Engine" light. Repair shops are able to check the computer to see precisely what is causing the problem, and can then make effective repairs. During your summer vacation trips, if your "Check Engine" light comes on and stays on, don't panic. You and your car are not in immediate danger. The first thing you should do is check that your fuel cap is secured tightly: loose gas caps cause gasoline vapor emissions which trigger the light. If the cap is tight and the light still stays on, try to arrange for service when convenient. If the light is flashing on and off, this indicates engine misfire, a condition that can harm the engine. In this case, you can still drive safely but you should minimize your time on the road and avoid driving at high speed or carrying excess weight such as towing or carrying heavy equipment. Making sure you service your vehicle whenever the Check Engine light is illuminated can help you:
Visit http://www.epa.gov/otaq/obd-faq.htm for answers to questions about OBD. Recharging Your Car's Air Conditioner with Refrigerant When servicing
automotive air-conditioning systems, vehicle owners generally have several
options to recharge a/c systems with refrigerant. One option is to top-off
your car's system with refrigerant, and another is to evacuate and recharge
the system. Both of these options will provide cool air in the passenger
compartment for some period of time. Federal Recreation Areas Visit a National Park this summer. Check
out this site that has one-stop access to federal recreation information. National Park Service A guide to visiting national parks is found
at the National Park Service Web site. Look at state Web sites to find
State and local park information. On the WaterBoaters can help to prevent pollution The cooperation of individual
boaters is essential in the effort to improve air quality and prevent
pollution. Sunscreen: The Burning Facts (PDF,
6 pp., 954K) Here are some tips to teach you what you need to know about
sunscreen
Check Local Beach Water Quality Conditions There are several
things that you can do to improve the quality of water at the beach. For
example, you can learn more about the quality of the water at your local
beach, become involved as a responsible citizen to reduce pollutants that
can wash into the water, and find out what state or local agencies or
departments are responsible for protecting the quality of the water at
your beach.
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/30cwafish.pdf Conserving and Protecting Our Water ResourcesDuring the summer it is especially important to conserve and protect water. Drought conditions in certain parts of the country and activities that increase its use can cause water to be more scarce. Water Use It Wisely There are a number of ways to save water. See how to use it wisely at: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/ Water Saver Home Learn what you can do to reduce water use in
your home -- take a virtual tour of this Water Saver Home. Volunteer Monitoring Spend extra summer vacation time doing environmental
volunteering. The summer growing season is when a lot of vegetative restoration
activities (seeding, planting trees, aquatic grasses, removal of invasive
species, etc) take place; most of these restoration activities rely primarily
on citizen volunteers to succeed. Find out how you can get involved. In Your GardenLawn and GardenA beautiful and healthy lawn is good for our environment. It can resist
damage from weeds, disease, and insect pests. Pesticides can be effective,
but need to be used according to the directions on the label and should
not be relied on as a quick-fix to lawn problems.
Do you use pressure-treated lumber on your deck, fence, post or gazebo?
Learn about CCA (chromated copper arsenate), a wood preservative that
contains arsenic, and learn about alternatives to CCA. Using and Storing Gasoline In the summer, lots of portable containers are used to store and transport fuels for lawnmowers, chainsaws and recreational vehicles. These portable containers can emit hydrocarbons; in addition, spills can leak into ground water. Here are some tips to follow to reduce these concerns:
For more information see: How to Use Insect Repellents Safely Your Yard and Clean Air (PDF,
2 pp., 16K) Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment (PDF,
19 pp., 1745K) - Information about environmentally friendly lawn care. Green Landscaping Bringing conservation from the countryside to your backyard Tips for a Waste-Free Lawn and Garden Environmentally Friendly Gardening Water Efficiency Measures for Landscaping Learn How to Compost Using Pesticides SafelyIf you decide that the best solution to your pest problem is a pesticide, follow these tips when selecting and using a garden product:
"Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings." This Spanish/English brochure outlines the ten most important steps you can take to protect children from accidental poisonings associated with the presence of lead and pesticides in the home. A "must" for parents. http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/10_tips/index.html Learn why children may be especially sensitive to pesticides. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.htm For more information visit:
In and Around the House Cool Change Campaign Keeping your house cool when it's hot is
important because energy use increases in the summer. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_consumer_cool_change
to learn about the "Cool Change Campaign" in Energy Star. Summertime Recycling Activities You can recycle all year long
but in the summer there are special things that you can do in your yard
such as composting. To learn more see Recycling Around the Home Learn how you can reduce, reuse, and
recycle materials and decrease the amount and toxicity of the waste produced
in and around your home. When it is hot, postpone chores that use oil-based paints, solvents, or varnishes that produce fumes and, if you are barbecuing, use an electric starter instead of charcoal lighter fluid. Resources For Kids and StudentsIf you are looking for some interesting activities this summer that will help you learn about the environment, check out these cool educational and fun sites. Air Quality Index The AQI uses colors, and numbers, and words
to tell you about the air. Darby Duck and the Aquatic Crusaders Become an Aquatic Crusader
and join Darby Duck in the fight against water pollution! Welcome to Recycle City! There's lots to do here people and places
to visit and plenty of ways to explore how the city's residents recycle,
reduce, and reuse waste. Help Save Our Planet! Lead an alien expedition to Earth. Trail
the Garbage Gremlin as an ace detective. Become a Planet Protector today!
Pesticides Information for Kids, Students and Teachers http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/kids/index.htm Roaches are one of the most common household pests. Once they
move into your home, they multiply quickly. That makes them even harder
to control. Find out more about EPA educational resources by going to the explorers
club, the students and teachers centers.
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This page originally created: Friday, June 14, 2002 |
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