FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2019
Contact:
Lyz Hoffman, Public Information Officer, Air Pollution Control District, (805) 961-8819
California Clean Air Day 2019
Three steps to learn more about, and help improve, local air quality
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and other local partners encourage Santa Barbara County residents to participate in California Clean Air Day.
California Clean Air Day is a statewide program built on the idea that shared experiences unite people to action to improve local air quality and community health. On October 2, 2019, Californians across the state will take actions to clear the air and improve their and their community’s health. More than 100,000 people participated in 2018, and it is anticipated that 10 times as many people will participate in 2019.
APCD – together with Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) / Traffic Solutions, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD), and Sansum Clinic – encourages Santa Barbara County residents to take three steps to participate in Clean Air Day this year:
- BE AWARE OF YOUR AIR: Sign up to receive air quality alerts issued by APCD and Santa Barbara County Public Health.
- APCD provides hourly air quality conditions and daily forecasts on its website. For the most part, Santa Barbara County enjoys good-to-moderate air quality conditions. Sign up to receive alerts when air quality conditions turn unhealthy, such as during wildfires.
- Being up-to-date on hourly air quality conditions will help you and your loved ones protect your health and plan activities accordingly. This is especially important for individuals with heart and lung conditions, seniors, and children.
- PROTECT YOUR HEALTH: Learn more about air pollution and health.
- Read about how ground-level ozone and particulate matter can affect your health.
- Knowledge is power, and the more you understand about the harmful effects of air pollution, the more you can do to protect your health.
- PLEDGE TO TRY ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION THIS OCTOBER: Try alternative transportation for free this month.
- Sign up to receive a free 10-ride pass to ride the Santa Barbara MTD: surveymonkey.com/r/freepasscleanerair
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- Sign up to receive a free one-time, round-trip pass to ride any of the routes of the Clean Air Express, run by SBCAG: trafficsolutions.org/cleanairday
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- Walk or bike to work or school, as several Santa Barbara County schools are doing today.
The partners also recognize the many other local organizations participating in Clean Air Day.
“Clean Air Day is great time to celebrate everything we have done throughout Santa Barbara County to significantly improve air quality over time. With the help of all the local partners, tremendous strides have been made to reduce levels of smog-forming pollution,” said Aeron Arlin Genet, APCD Director. “However, we still have more to do. Every time you’re able to take the bus, walk, or ride your bike to get where you’re going, you can help reduce emissions that contribute to pollution and climate change.”
Find more ideas to help improve air quality on the California Clean Air Day website, and take the pledge: www.CleanAirDay.org.
