School’s Out – My Summer Plans

You might be getting ready for your summer plans, but there’s no vacation for this pup!

Summer in this area is hot, dry, and sunny—which is great for spending time outdoors, but not always so great for summertime air pollution. When someone drives a gas-powered car, it produces emissions. These same emissions mix with the sun’s summertime UV rays to produce ground-level ozone, otherwise known as smog.

Smog is harmful to your health, especially if you’re in a sensitive group, like someone who is under the age of 14, exercises vigorously outdoors, or has asthma.

During Spare The Air season, my crew and I help people throughout the region learn all about air pollution, its health impacts, and how it can be reduced. Whenever we go to an event, we carpool to help reduce emissions (and play ‘I-Spy,’ of course!).

The best way to know if there is pollution in the air is to learn about the Air Quality Index (AQI), which you will find on my All About Air Pollution page. Be sure to check the AQI daily. The current conditions in your area can be found on the Spare The Air website, or you can have a grown-up check the daily forecast on Facebook or X.

You may have already seen me out and about around Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Solano counties. If you haven’t, make sure to check out my upcoming calendar on the homepage and come take a picture with me at an event. I’ve never been one to be camera-shy, so you can ask your grownup to post it and tag me on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win a family four-pack of movie tickets!

I hope to see you soon!

Until next time,

Scooter