Hazardous Outdoor Air Quality – What to do?

Child Care providers and Early Educators often ask when it is appropriate to take kids outside when there are air quality warnings. OCDEL receives guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections (DEP) on air quality. It is important for children to go outside daily, however, keeping children indoors when outdoor air quality is unsafe protects them from breathing pollutants which are hazardous to their health.

Outdoor air pollutants include:

• Wildfire smoke – contains toxic gases and particles
• Industrial, construction, or traffic-related pollution (smog)
• High pollen levels

Child care providers need to know when daily or hourly air quality is unsafe for outdoor play.  Poor air quality can cause breathing problems, especially for children with asthma and allergies.

• Check the Air Quality Index (AQI). 
• Red, purple, and maroon colors indicate when air quality is unsafe, and children should NOT go outdoors.
• Orange is a caution for children and adults with health conditions like asthma.

What you can do:

• Download the AQI App to your cell phone: AirNow Mobile App | AirNow.gov
• Subscribe to EnviroFlash for air quality notifications by email or text message.

AQI Basics | AirNow.gov