‘Reduce outdoor activity of kids’

LUCKNOW: School-going kids are the most vulnerable to smog and reducing their outdoor activity might help reduce the impact of air pollutants on them, say experts.

“It’s simple to understand. When you breathe normally, you inhale 500 ml of air but as you breathe during exercises such as running, cycling or playing outdoors you breathe in more air – may be up to a litre,” said Prof Surya Kant, HoD, pulmonary medicine department at KGMU.

School authorities agree with this.

“Students can participate in additional activities inside the classroom instead of outdoors. This measure can be adopted for

When you breathe normally, you inhale 500 ml of air but when you indulge in exercises such as running, cycling or playing outdoors you breathe in more air PROF SURYA KANT, HoD, pulmonary medicine department at KGMU.

a few days till smog level comes down to a safe limit,” said Sharmila Singh, principal, Pioneer Montessori Inter College (Eldeco Branch).

So far, attendance has not been affected much, but if the smog continues it might go down. “Right now the attendance is normal,” said Geetika Kapoor, St Teresa’s College, Ashiana.

She said if medical experts advise indoor activities for students, it can be adopted for a few days. “This cannot be a permanent solution, but may be adopted for a few days,” she said.

All schools are following winter timings and start after 7.40 am, but if smog level rises, the visibility may be poor till 8.30 am.

According to the Meteorological department, “Dense to very dense smog was observed at most places over Punjab and at isolated places over north Rajasthan and UP.”

If this continues for the next 24 hours, people might face problems, especially those having respiratory disorders, said Dr Vinod Jain, senior faculty at KGMU.