The British Lung Foundation and NiQuitin are calling for support from Clean Air Heroes like you, to take one step further to help protect the nation’s lung health.
Why is air pollution an issue?
There is no safe amount of air pollution for a person to breathe, yet levels remain high in some places in the UK. By cutting air pollution, the British Lung Foundation aims to:
- Help prevent 36,000 people from dying early every year
- Cut hospital admissions by 20,000 every year, reducing the burden on the NHS
- Reduce asthma attacks and flare ups of COPD
- Improve the nation’s lung health1
Anyone can make a difference. Whether it’s as an individual making changes to your daily habits and routines, such as opting to walk instead of driving where possible. Or alternatively, as a wider company, rallying colleagues to do their part to reduce air pollution.
Become a Clean Air Hero!
There are plenty of ways you can get involved and help save more lives from toxic air.
Here’s how you can become a Clean Air Hero:
1. Use your voice
Raise your voice and tell our politicians that they need to be helping to tackle air pollution. The British Lung Foundation has a handy tool which makes this simple and easy to do. Just enter your name and postcode to sign the petition telling politicians that you’re fighting for clean air. Together we have the power to demand change.
Use your voice and become a Clean Air Hero here.
2. Switch it up
Pledge to switch one journey a week to cycling or walking. Most of the toxic air on our roads comes from vehicles. By switching one journey to walking or cycling, you’re actively reducing the impact you have.
Switch it up and become a Clean Air Hero here.
3. Be a clean air employer
36,000 people die early due to high levels of air pollution every year1. The British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK are asking you and your colleagues to commit to cleaning up our air. Simply choose a challenge and become a Clean Air Champion for your company.
There are 4 simple steps to follow if you want to get involved:
- Choose your challenge
- Sign up to raise funds for the British Lung Foundation or Asthma UK
- Take action and raise funds with your colleagues
- Spread the word telling your colleagues, friends and family how they can get involved (don’t forget to use the hashtag #36kcleanairchallenge on social media)
Get your colleagues involved and become a Clean Air Champion here.
4. Make some noise
Spread the news about the British Lung Foundation’s Clean Air Challenge on social media to help raise awareness of air pollution. Don’t forget to include the hashtag #CleanAirHero when posting.
Make some noise and become a Clean Air Hero here.
Quit smoking and improve your lung health
We’re working with the British Lung Foundation for healthier lungs. Cigarette smoke contains a cocktail of over 5,000 different chemicals. Smokers smoke for the nicotine, which is extremely addictive, but are harmed by the other chemicals2.
Many of these chemicals can cause cancer, while others are poisonous. Smoking doesn’t just affect your lungs. Smoking can affect every part of the body – from your skin to your brain2.
Quitting smoking is a great way to start improving your lung health. And it’s never too late to quit. Find out how you can go smoke free this Stoptober here
