Unhealthy Air Quality: Planning Safe Outdoor Time

When the AQI is 151–200 (“Unhealthy”), everyone should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, and people in sensitive groups should avoid it. At 201–300 (“Very Unhealthy”), avoid outdoor exertion if you can; above 300 (“Hazardous”), stay indoors as much as possible and follow local health advisories.

If you must go out, choose a short, low-effort errand over a run or a long walk, and check the AQI again before leaving because conditions can change during the day. A 10-minute trip is not automatically safe, but spending less time outside and avoiding strenuous activity can reduce your exposure.

Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung conditions may need to limit outdoor time sooner than others; follow any advice from your clinician. If you develop coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, unusual fatigue, or shortness of breath, go inside, and seek medical help promptly for severe or persistent symptoms.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating take extra care if you are sensitive.

When outdoor air is worse, close windows and doors, use available air filtration appropriately, and wait for conditions to improve before airing out your space. For a room-by-room approach to your indoor environment, our team put together Breathe Better Indoors, Live Better: A Practical Guide to Improving Indoor Air Quality.