How to Check Air Quality Before Going Outside

Outdoor air quality matters more than ever for older adults. Wildfire smoke now travels across the country in the summer and fall, ozone pollution rises on hot sunny days, and pollen seasons last longer than they did 20 years ago. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that people over 65 are among the most sensitive groups to air pollution because aging lungs have less reserve capacity and many seniors live with heart disease, asthma, COPD, or diabetes that air pollution can worsen. Checking the air quality forecast each morning, the same way you check the weather, can prevent a trip to the emergency room.

The most useful tool is free and works on any phone, tablet, or computer: the EPA AirNow service at airnow.gov. AirNow combines real-time measurements from thousands of monitors operated by the EPA, state agencies, tribal governments, and partner countries into one simple number called the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The AQI runs from 0 to 500. A score of 0 to 50 is green and considered good air. Yellow, 51 to 100, is moderate and a small concern for very sensitive people. Orange, 101 to 150, is unhealthy for sensitive groups, which explicitly includes everyone over 65. Red, 151 to 200, is unhealthy for everyone. Purple and maroon, 201 and above, are very unhealthy and hazardous, and most outdoor activity should stop.

For seniors, the orange level is the daily decision point. When the local AQI is orange or higher, outdoor exercise should be cut back or moved indoors. A walk around the block becomes a walk inside the mall. Yard work waits for a clearer day. If you have an air purifier or an air-conditioning system with a HEPA filter, run it on a higher setting to clean indoor air, and keep windows and doors closed. Wildfire smoke is especially dangerous because it contains very small particles called PM2.5 that bypass the nose and throat and travel deep into the lungs, where they can trigger heart attacks, strokes, and worsening of any chronic condition you already have.

This guide walks you through downloading and using the official AirNow app on iPhone and Android, checking the website on a computer, signing up for free air quality email alerts, and adjusting your day when the air is bad. Set aside about 20 minutes to do the setup once. After that, checking the air takes ten seconds in the morning. Once you make it part of your daily routine alongside the weather forecast, you will gain a clear picture of when it is safe to be outside and when to stay in.