AirALERT is designed to send messages to mobile or home telephones and via email at times when poor air quality is predicted. The service is designed to inform sensitive people who may suffer from the effects of pollution a day before it is expected, helping them to make informed choices about managing their respiratory health.

AirAlert-4-Schools is a similar service where a message will be sent to the school office in order to inform teachers who may be planning events outdoors where air quality should be considered.

Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council co-launched the airAlert-4-schools service at Central School in Chichester on June 5 to coincide with World Environment Day. Children were shown around an air quality monitoring station and given a chance to see the equipment used to measure and predict future air quality. They were also given the opportunity to take part in a competition.

The service is provided by the Sussex Air Quality Partnership (Sussex–air), which is made up of members from East and West Sussex local and county authorities, the Sussex Primary Care Trusts, the Health Protection Agency, the Environment Agency and the Sussex Universities (Brighton and Sussex). The partnership also has close ties with King's College London (Environment Research Group) and Environmental Protection UK.

Anyone with asthma or a respiratory complaint can register for free on-line at www.airalert.info or by post by returning a freepost response form in the airAlert leaflets that are available at GP surgeries and clinics.

Councillor Heather Caird, Portfolio Holder for Health at Chichester District Council, said: "The airAlert service will help raise the profile of air quality in the District and reinforce the message that good air quality is essential for good health."

Dr David Hagen, Health Protection Agency consultant, said: "airAlerts provide valuable information to enable people to better manage their own health which should result in reduced hospital admissions or GP visits."

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