The UK’s first ever National Clean Air Day on 15 June brings focus to what we can do about air pollution – to both protect our health and reduce air pollution levels. Here at CHFT we're encouraging people to do something different, and we're also offering a cycle surgery.

The day aims to give everyone the knowledge needed to respond to air pollution. 

For example, avoiding a busy road and walking down a side street can cut exposure to pollution by 20% or more. Also, cars gather pollution from the vehicle in front, meaning that car drivers can be exposed to significant pollution. One research project found that drivers on the same route as cyclists were exposed to nine times more pollution.

We're running a cycle surgery service on both hospital sites between 12pm and 2pm. At HRI the surgery will be opposite Trust HQ on the South Drive Entrance delivered by Streetbikes and at CRH outside the Children’s and Women’s Service Entrance off Godfrey Road delivered by Happydays Cycling

On National Clean Air Day why not try something different to protect your health and reduce pollution? Around 25% of car journeys in the UK are under 2 miles. If all of these car journeys were walked instead it would save £16m in fuel and the population would burn an additional 3.6 billion calories. You could always drive part of the way, or car share.

If driving is essential, remembering to switch off the engine when stopped has been shown to cut peaks in pollution. 

To find out how to protect your health and cut emissions visit www.cleanairday.org.uk