Be Ready for an Ozone Action Day

Are You at Risk?

Exposure to high concentrations of ground-level ozone can be harmful to anyone's health but some people are more sensitive.

• Have asthma
• older adult
• infant or young child
• Exercise or work outdoors

Symptoms to Watch For

If you already have asthma or breathing problems, ozone may worsen your problem to the point that you'd need additional medical care. But even healthy people can react from breathing ozone.

• Coughing
• Chest pain
• Burning eyes
• Lung and throat irritation
• Wheezing and trouble breathing

When Are Ozone Action Days Declared?

Ozone Action Days are often issued on hot, sunny and windless days. Those weather conditions can lead to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone. An Ozone Action Day is used to alert people of possible exposure to unhealthy levels, and let them know to hold off on activities that contribute to the ozone problem.

Check to see if there's an Ozone Action Day declared near your home ›

Protect yourself and your loved ones when there's an alert:

• Spend more time indoors.
• Close your windows, especially in the afternoon.
• Take it easy if you're outdoors. (For example, choose walking instead of running so you don't breathe as hard and inhale more pollution.)
• If you have to be outside, go in the morning or evening, when ozone levels are lower.
• Keep pets cool and indoors and don't play with them too hard outside.

How You Can Help Keep Ozone Levels Low

Take steps to help protect our environment from the harmful effects of high levels of ground-level ozone.

Follow these simple tips:

• Try to carpool, use public transit, walk, or bike
• If you must drive, try to combine trips.
• Refuel your car in the evening and be sure to tighten the gas cap
• Hold off using lawnmowers and gas-powered yard equipment.
• Barbeque without starter fluid.
• Keep your car tuned up and well maintained.

Author Bio

Karen Babos is a primary contributor to the Stay Well blog and the Vice President of Clinical Programs and Quality for Walgreens. She is triple-board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative care.