Air Watch Northwest | Anti Idling | Front Desk Delivery Letter

Dear Front Office Staff:

Idling is harmful to our health and our environment!

Unnecessary vehicle idling contributes to health risks and pollution in the state of Washington. This is one hazard that can be easily prevented and you can be part of the solution. Your school has joined with the (Organization Name) to implement a program that will allow your school to actively improve the quality of the air you, other school staff, and your students breathe.

Your school is one of several in the state that is participating in this program to reduce vehicle idling at schools. Soon letters will be going out to parents and idling reduction pledge cards coming back to teachers. Monitors might also be present in the drop-off and pick-up areas before and after school to measure how long individuals idle while dropping off or picking up students.

We need your help!

We hope this is an easy request. We would like to extend the idling reduction message beyond parents to include buses and delivery trucks. You have received a stack of informational letters and pledge forms for drivers who deliver goods to your school. Please distribute these to drivers who visit your school between (Program Dates). Please ask them to sign the forms pledging not to idle their vehicles unnecessarily. Once drivers have signed the pledge, in exchange for their pledge not to idle, please give them a "No Idle" key tag and a coupon to a participating business that has contributed a thank you gift. Then, please return these signed forms and unused key tags on (Date), using the self-addressed envelope.

We encourage you, too, to take the pledge not to idle your vehicle unnecessarily.

Thank you for your support of this program!

Idling Reduction Fact Sheet

Did you know?

Each of us takes 20,000 breaths each day.
The average American breathes 3,400 gallons of air a day.
Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound than adults.
Vehicle exhaust is the leading source of toxic air pollution in Washington.
Idling consumes ½ gallon to 1 gallon of fuel per hour and wastes more fuel than turning off and on your vehicle engine.
Diesel exhaust contains microscopic soot, a particle that is about 200 times smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.
Diesel exhaust contains both very small particles and 40 chemicals that are classified as "hazardous air pollutants" under the Clean Air Act.
Idling buses tend to accumulate diesel exhaust, which may be retained during the ride depending upon bus ventilation rates.
It is more efficient to turn off most warmed-up vehicles than to idle for more than 30 seconds.
A single vehicle dropping off and picking up kids at one school puts three pounds of pollution into the air per month.
Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of blood to bring oxygen to body cells and tissues.
Asthma is reaching epidemic proportions in Washington. More than half a million Washington residents have been diagnosed with asthma, including one out of every 10 children in the state.
Children's asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.
Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and the cause of most school absences.
Exposure to vehicle exhaust increases the risk of death from heart and lung disease and lung cancer.


No Idle Zone / Anti-Idling
Dear Front Office Staff: Idling is harmful to our health and our environment! Unnecessary vehicle idling contributes to health risks and pollution in the state of Washington. This is one hazard that can be easily prevented and you can be part of the solution. Your school has joined with the (Organization Name) to implement a program that will allow your school to actively improve the quality of the air you, other school staff, and your students breathe. Your school is one of several in the state that is participating in this program to reduce vehicle idling at schools. Soon letters will be going out to parents and idling reduction pledge cards coming back to teachers. Monitors might also be present in the drop-off and pick-up areas before and after school to measure how long individuals idle while dropping off or picking up students. We need your help! We hope this is an easy request. We would like to extend the idling reduction message beyond parents to include buses and delivery trucks. You have received a stack of informational letters and pledge forms for drivers who deliver goods to your school. Please distribute these to drivers who visit your school between (Program Dates). Please ask them to sign the forms pledging not to idle their vehicles unnecessarily. Once drivers have signed the pledge, in exchange for their pledge not to idle, please give them a "No Idle" key tag and a coupon to a participating business that has contributed a thank you gift. Then, please return these signed forms and unused key tags on (Date), using the self-addressed envelope. We encourage you, too, to take the pledge not to idle your vehicle unnecessarily. Thank you for your support of this program! Idling Reduction Fact Sheet Did you know? Each of us takes 20,000 breaths each day. The average American breathes 3,400 gallons of air a day. Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound than adults. Vehicle exhaust is the leading source of toxic air pollution in Washington. Idling consumes ½ gallon to 1 gallon of fuel per hour and wastes more fuel than turning off and on your vehicle engine. Diesel exhaust contains microscopic soot, a particle that is about 200 times smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. Diesel exhaust contains both very small particles and 40 chemicals that are classified as "hazardous air pollutants" under the Clean Air Act. Idling buses tend to accumulate diesel exhaust, which may be retained during the ride depending upon bus ventilation rates. It is more efficient to turn off most warmed-up vehicles than to idle for more than 30 seconds. A single vehicle dropping off and picking up kids at one school puts three pounds of pollution into the air per month. Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of blood to bring oxygen to body cells and tissues. Asthma is reaching epidemic proportions in Washington. More than half a million Washington residents have been diagnosed with asthma, including one out of every 10 children in the state. Children's asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust. Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and the cause of most school absences. Exposure to vehicle exhaust increases the risk of death from heart and lung disease and lung cancer.