The Central California Asthma Collaborative is encouraging parents to turn off their engines when picking up their children from school. It's the latest effort from the Healthy Air Living Schools program--multiple measures that school districts can take to promote better air quality.
"They're emitting all this exhaust into the air, and it's just a little thing to do for parents. Just turn off your engine. It lowers emissions. It helps with the children's lung health," says Destiny Rodriguez, director of outreach and communications for the CCAC.
The American Lung Association ranked the Fresno-Madera area as the third-most polluted by year round particle pollution in 2013.
At the Allergy Institute in Fresno, Dr. A.M. Aminian treats patients with asthma daily. He says there are two main factors that aggravate asthma.
"One is irritants in the air, such as air pollution, weather changes, stagnant air, smog levels, and the other is because of allergies," Aminian says.
Those with asthma know how the disease affects their quality of life.
"Really just a tight chest and difficulty breathing," says Marvin Nakagawa, an asthma patient as he describes his symptoms. "You tend to want to do less. You don't want to exert yourself."
Other efforts from the Central Valley Asthma Collaborative include encouraging people to sign up for online or text message alerts through the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. These alerts can notify parents and school administrators of changing air conditions.