CRHS Environmental

Content:

Walk or Ride

CRHS is a bike and pedestrian friendly school. With sidewalks leading to the rotunda from Cinco Ranch Blvd. and the addition of two new bike racks this year, it is easier than ever to walk or bike to school.

Health Benefits:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day.(6)

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes. (5)

Two-thirds (65%) of U.S. adults 20 years of age or older are considered to be overweight or obese, as defined by the body mass index (BMI). In Texas, one in three (35%) Texas children more than double the national average – are considered to be overweight or obese. (13)
Excess weight can lead to chronic and costly preventable medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
The number of overweight and obese Texans is increasing dramatically. According to a 2005 report, Texas ranked sixth among the 50 states for largest single-year increase in the rate of obesity. The number of obese Texans has more than doubled in the last 14 years from 12 percent in 1990 to 27 percent in 2005.(13)
Three of the five leading causes of death in Texas, heart disease, stoke, and cancer, are related to obesity.(13)

To find out the approximate number of calories burned per hour depending on type exercise, take a look at Harvard Medical School's website here.

Reduce Air Pollution:

School traffic accounts for 7-11% of non-commuting traffic, not including drop offs on way to work.(3)
Leaving the car at home just two days a week will reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. (3)
Air pollution from exhaust may impact athletes during pick-up/drop-off times.

Traffic around the school is an indication of the high levels of volatile organic compounds or VOC’s and nitrogen oxide or NOX, precursors to ground level ozone, present on and around the school campus in the early morning hours and after dismissal. It is during these hours that we also have large number of students from different UIL activities practicing outdoors. This population is also, the most affected by high levels of ozone.

According to the TCEQ, the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality:

During exercise or strenuous work we breathe more often and draw air more deeply into the lungs. When we exercise heavily, we may increase our intake of air by as much as 10 times our level at rest. The interaction between air pollution and exercise is so strong that health scientists typically use exercising volunteers in their research.
The lungs of children as well as those of young adults are still developing; they breathe more rapidly and inhale more air pollution per pound of body weight than adults. On days when ozone levels are high, these factors put children at increased risk for respiratory problems.
Other people affected are those with lung diseases. People who suffer from lung diseases like bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, asthma, and colds have even more trouble breathing when the air is polluted. The effects can be worse for anyone who spends significant periods of time exercising or working outdoors.
Air pollution also exacerbates allergies causing chronic inflammation of the airways. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics tiny particles in diesel exhaust can increase a person’s sensitivity to pollen or dust mites or other allergy producing antigens.

Exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with significant deficits in the respiratory growth and development of young adults, and such exposure culminates in clinically and statistically significant deficits in lung function by adulthood, according to the results of the longitudinal, prospective Children's Health Study published in the Sept. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Calculating time and distance to school: Google Maps allows can calculate the time it will take you two walk or bike to school. It assumes a 20 minute/mile walking speed. At this speed, many will walk in about half an hour or less to school. Half an hour might seem like a lot, but it is only half of the daily required physical activity recommended by the CDC. Make sure that you allow yourself enough time to get to school on time. click here for Google map.

Safety:

We are very grateful for the new sidewalks that were placed along Cinco Ranch High School Blvd. this summer and the additional ramps placed this winter funded by Cinco MUD 10.
When traveling to school or home:

Walk or bike on sidewalks provided when ever possible.
When ever possible, ride or walk in the direction of traffic even when you are riding on the sidewalk. Cars coming out of driveways, cross streets and parking lots will often only look in the direction of traffic before crossing the intersection.
Wear a helmet when riding a bike! Wear a bike helmet properly. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, between the years 1998 to 2008, a total of 7697 cyclists died. Of these, 7108 or 92% were not wearing helmets. A case-control study of the effectiveness of bicycle safety helmets published in 1989 in the New England Journal of Medicine by Thompson and Rivera found that riders with helmets had an 85 percent reduction in their risk of head injury and an 88 percent reduction in their risk of brain injury. Other studies, since then, have shown similar results. Read about the importance of bike helmets
Make eye contact with drivers at intersections when ever possible.
Use lights on your bike when you are riding in the morning or at dusk. These can be purchase for around $12 a piece at a bike shop.
Wear Comfortable shoes.

_______________________________________________________

Resources:

1. Report Sounds Diabetes Alarm, Houston Chronicle, Dec. 1,2010
2. Asthma’s Impacts on Children and Adolescents. Accessed July 24, 2008 at http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/children.htm.
3. http://www.epa.gov/earthday/podcasts/
4. http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed Jan. 21st, 2011at http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter3.aspx.
6. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Jan. 21st, 2011at http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html.
7. A case-control study of the effectiveness of bicycle safety helmets Accessed Jan. 21st, 2011at http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1068.html.
8. Toward Zero Deaths: A National Strategy on Highway Safety. Accessed Jan. 21st, 2011at http://safety.transportation.org/doc/web5%20Vulnerable%20Users%20White%20Paper.pdf
9. http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2006/bicycles.html
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118836/
11. http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2008/bicycles.html
12. http://bicyclesafe.com/
13. Texas Health Institute. Accessed Jan. 23, 2011 at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/obesity/pdf/THIPolicyBrief06.pdf