SCDHEC Breathe Better

Smog and auto emissions have terrible health effects, but in South Carolina, the Department of Health and Environmental Control has a program designed to control emissions in school zones.  It’s called Breathe Better and the program aims to protect children by making school zones anti-idling areas.  When parents pick up or drop off children and when school busses are making their rounds, often vehicles sit idling.  Not only does this waste gas, but the emissions from idling vehicles have negative effects on children’s still-developing lungs.  And idling wastes money; did you know that idling for just 30 seconds wastes more gas that turning off and restarting your engine?  So what can you do to help?  Turn off the engine when you’re waiting in the car line.  Talk to your school’s administrators about making your child’s school a no-idle zone.