Yesterday, an article in the Dallas Morning News talked about ozone alerts and what is being done to protect us from smog. With everything from highway signs promoting carpooling to police raids on shops selling phony inspection stickers, the government is cracking down on this ongoing problem.

In August alone, there were nine days that North Texas regional ozone levels reached unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Now, the latest research says that as individuals, we have the most powerful tool for controlling our own protection from smog – personal choice. That means staying indoors when there are high ozone alerts. And many North Texans are heeding the warnings. For instance, on high-ozone days that are predicted by the weather bureau in advance, there are fewer North Texans with asthma who rush to emergency rooms or are hospitalized. Conversely, when there are no warnings and we have high ozone days, hospital visits because people didn’t know the danger in advance.

Researcher Ginger Smith Carles performed a study on whether North Texas’ ozone alerts cause people to change their behavior. According to Carles, “People do respond to this information about air quality. From my study, it looks like the alert system is protective. People can take steps to protect themselves.” Other research studies have found similar results for programs warning of ozone danger alerts.

By definition, ozone is a tasteless, odorless but extremely harmful air pollutant that primarily comprises smog. O in zone is primarily a summer danger due to strong sunlight cooking emissions in the air to form ozone. The emissions that are created in the morning become smog in the afternoon. People most at risk from ozone are the very young, the elderly and anyone with asthma or other lung ailments.

The Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, is preparing to announce a tighter national limit on ozone. Although ozone levels have decreased since 2000, they’re still much higher than the strict standards Jackson is expected to set.

Some of the steps to crack down on ozone include state financial aid for early replacement of older, higher-polluting diesel equipment, including trucks, as well as smog checks for most gas-powered vehicles, which are the largest cause of smog-causing emissions in North Texas. Additionally, undercover police officers are being sent into shops accused of selling fake inspection stickers. A primary component to the new anti-smog campaign is the state environmental commission’s air pollution watch system. At the Austin headquarters, experts review daily weather conditions and issue an ozone watch if high levels are expected the following day.

The easiest and most obvious choice to preventing exposure to smog is to stay indoors. However, that’s not always possible, of course. And ultimately, it’s not a solution as it doesn’t address the cause of smog – ozone emissions. Plus, according to Carles’ study, the more ozone alerts we have, the less seriously people take them. If there are several consecutive days of ozone alerts, people tend to heed the warning the first few days, and then ignore them. And with constant ozone alerts, people could also start considering high ozone alerts as normal and take absolutely no action.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on how to keep your pet safe in the heat.  In light of a recent event, I feel it necessary to expand on both animal and child safety in a hot car.

Yesterday, news stations reported a Lancaster woman who was arrested when she left her two-year-old son in a locked car.  The 27-year-old woman said she did it because she wasn’t able to handle both of her children at the same time.  Claiming she didn’t understand what she did wrong, she told the police that she had left her window cracked and provided the child with food. The woman is being charged with Endangerment of a Child.  It was 105 degrees outside when the toddler was locked in the car.  As both a mother and a pet owner, I’m amazed and shocked when I hear these types of stories.  Common sense would dictate that when it’s really hot outside, it’s going to be even hotter in a locked car.

Not only is leaving a child or animal inside a hot, locked car a bad idea, it’s a deadly idea.  With an 80-degree temperature outside, a vehicle’s temperature inside can jump 19 degrees in just ten minutes.  After that, the temperature continues to rise, much like the heat in an oven.  You may not realize that a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s, causing even greater risk for heat stroke which can cause permanent brain damage or even death.

A nationwide count of hyperthermia deaths of children left in vehicles through the month of June totals 20.  Almost daily, there are reports from media around the country of kids being locked inside cars.  Approximately 37 children nationwide die from heat stroke every year after being left alone in hot cars.  In about half these cases, an adult simply forgot to take the child out of the car when he or she left the vehicle.

The Humane  Society of the United States also warns against locking pets in a car.  Pets can’t perspire and only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet.  Dogs and cats that are only briefly left inside hot cars can also suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage and even death.

Additionally, normal household items can act as projectiles in an extremely hot car.  There have been reports of aerosol cans exploding in hot cars and literally blowing out windows.  Because cans are pressurized, the hotter they get, the more the pressure builds, resulting in an explosion.

The following are some tips on preventing heat-related injuries for both children and pets in cars:

• Never leave a child alone in a car — not even for a minute, not even if the windows are down.
• Set a reminder on your cell phone, BlackBerry or computer to be sure that you drop your child at daycare.
• Place your cell phone, purse or briefcase on the floor of the back seat. This will help remind you to open the back door and see that your child or pet is in the car.
• Ask your childcare provider to call if your child does not arrive when expected.
• Lock car doors and always keep keys out of reach of young children. Teach children not to play in or around cars.

At A#1 Air, we’re proud to be sponsors of the WBAP “Welcome Home Hero!” Program, which is designed to raise funds to build homes for our heroic service members.  A#1 Air is excited about this program, which is why we’re providing new air conditioning units for these homes.

This picture was taken today and, as you can see, the foundation is in place and construction is beginning! Check back here often as we’ll be posting updates periodically throughout the project.

We encourage all of you to donate to this incredible fundraiser in appreciation of all the heroes of this country who put their lives on the line to ensure our freedom.  For more information, please click here or read the article below from the WBAP website:

WBAP presents “Welcome Home Hero!”  We are raising funds to build homes for our heroes; our wounded service members by asking listeners to donate to www.babasupport.org and at various WBAP fundraisers throughout 2010.

The first home we are building for this great program is for Army Staff Sergeant Johnny Wilson.  Listeners will remember Army Staff Sergeant Johnny Wilson and his family from the Hal’s Angels live broadcast at Wal-Mart on December 17, 2009.  We surprised Johnny and his family with a proclamation from Governor Rick Perry, proclaiming the Wilson family a new home owner in Texas.  Johnny was an infantry soldier and served in Iraq.  Johnny was actually injured twice in Iraq.  The first time was in 2004 when Johnny suffered severe burns while in combat.  Johnny lost his left leg below the knee on his second tour in 2005.  Johnny’s wife Elizabeth recently suffered a stroke which has left her unable to drive, work and she and Johnny both are receiving physical therapy.  Johnny and Elizabeth are raising three children with the help of Elizabeth’s parents.

As we build a home for Johnny Wilson and his family, you will be able to see the progress here on wbap.com with photos, videos and audio interviews.  From pouring the foundation to welcoming Johnny and his family home upon the completion of the new home, you will see it all here!   WBAP Listeners can contribute at www.babasupport.org.  Your generous donations will provide homes for our heroes.

“Welcome Home Hero,” is a WBAP fundraising program created to provide homes for our wounded service members and is a partnership with the non-profit organization, Bay Area Builders Association (BABA), The Texas Sentinels Foundation, REMAX of Texas, Sierra Fine Custom Homes(Owner Mike McKellop), QHome Designs (Architect Rob Maxson) and WBAP Sponsors; A Number One Air Conditioning, Lon Smith Roofing, Tankless Guy, Efficient Attic Systems, Liberty Mutual, Peek’s Floor Co., Q Home Designs, Sierra Fine Custom Homes, Newspray, and Golden Look of Texas. Our great sponsors are providing donations of services and products in order to provide a complete home for our wounded soldiers for the “Welcome Home Hero” Program.