By Haley Heisley

If you’re reading this, you’re also breathing in the air around you. It makes sense that by bettering the environment outside of us, we better the inside of us. 

Air pollution can occur from many things: factories, cars running on gas, insulation, caulk, mold inside the home, candles, cleaning products, natural disasters like wildfires, and a plethora of other causes, all of which have many different effects on the body. 

How can we keep ourselves safe? The first step is identifying the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your location to determine what precautions should be taken. Access your AQI at AirNow.gov or by downloading the free AirNow mobile app.

As you can see on the above graphic, AQI categorizes air quality into several levels, each corresponding to a different level of health concern:

When air quality alerts are issued, it’s essential to take appropriate actions to protect your health and well-being. Consider the following if the AQI is unhealthy:

• Wear an n95 mask to go outside.
• Limit outdoor activities until the AQI improves.
• Ensure those with respiratory conditions have medications or equipment they may need.
• Refrain from burning candles, smoking or using a gas stove indoors.

By understanding precautions to take, identifying air quality levels and what they indicate, and being educated on common air pollutants that we may not even realize can be in our homes are crucial steps in keeping the air clean and us safe. This month, as well as every month, we need to pay attention to bettering ourselves inside and outside.