Tips to protect yourself from unhealthy air
Minnesota Department of Health
Air Quality Awareness Week
air quality awareness week banner
Air Quality Awareness Week May 5-9
*Air Quality Awareness Week* is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative to increase awareness of air quality and to remind everyone to check the air quality year-around at AirNow.gov. [ [link removed] ]
"*Stay Air Aware"* is the theme this year.
Follow us on our Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) social media platforms - Facebook [ [link removed] ], Instagram [ [link removed] ], X (Twitter) [ [link removed] ], and LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] - where we will share information, resources, and helpful links on different air quality topics the week of May 5.
Related resources
* Air Quality, Climate and Health [ [link removed] ]
* Asthma [ [link removed] ]
* Cardiovascular Health [ [link removed] ]
* Minnesota Environmental Public Health Tracking [ [link removed] ]
* Wildfire Smoke [ [link removed] ]
* Athletes and Asthma: The Community Coach's Role [ [link removed] ] (MDH) A 35-minute online asthma training course for youth sport coaches and anyone who supports youth programming.
Stay Air Aware
Minnesota sky
Tips to protect yourself from unhealthy air
Increase your air quality awareness and encourage others to do the same. Stay air aware and be prepared to take steps to protect yourself and others from poor air quality.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has some very simple, effective tips for protecting you and your family from the dangers of outdoor air pollution. Visit the ALA website to learn more about lung health and 10 Tips to Protect Yourself From Unhealthy Air [ [link removed] ].
Did you know?
Per the American Heart Association [ [link removed] ] there is growing evidence linking air pollution and heart disease. Short term exposure can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, arrhythmias, and heart failure in older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Work with your health care professional to understand the risks in your area and what precautions you should take.
Guidance to protect kids when air pollution levels are high
To help adults make decisions that will protect children and young adults, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has developed outdoor activity guidance [ [link removed] ] linked to the Air Quality Index. This document provides guidance on when and how to adjust outdoor activities when air pollution levels are elevated, such as when wildfire smoke moves into the area. The goal is to help kids stay active while protecting their health.
minnesota outdoor air quality guidance for schools and child care [ [link removed] ]
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Check the air quality in your community
Stay informed about your local air quality conditions by visiting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Current Air Quality Conditions. [ [link removed] ]
Check the air where you are
Use the* AirNow* app to get current air quality conditions for Minnesota on your mobile device. Download Apple [ [link removed] ] or Android [ [link removed] ] apps.
Be smoke ready
If you live in an area where the wildfire risk is high,* take steps now to prepare for wildfire season.* Being prepared for fire season is especially important for the health of children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease.
Information is available on the Be Smoke Ready [ [link removed] ]website that can help you plan ahead and know your risk.
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Asthma and your health
girl using an inhaler
May is Asthma Awareness Month!
When you control your asthma, you can breathe easier, be active, and sleep well. The first step in raising asthma awareness is learning about asthma and educating friends, family, and others with ways to control asthma. Help us raise awareness this month by learning and sharing ways to manage asthma [ [link removed] ] and asthma triggers [ [link removed] ].
Environmental factors can trigger or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Work with a health professional to develop a written asthma action plan [ [link removed] ] to control asthma triggers in your environment.
*Learn more about Asthma Awareness Month:*
* What is Asthma [ [link removed] ] (video, ALA)
* Asthma and Allergy Awareness [ [link removed] ] (AAFA)
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the air we breathe report
The Air We Breathe report
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) released The air we breathe: The state of Minnesota's air quality 2025 (PDF) [ [link removed] ] to the Minnesota Legislature. This biennial status report includes information on emissions of toxic air pollutants and mercury in Minnesota and MPCA's strategies to reduce them.
Learn more
* The pollutant of most concern from *wildfire smoke* is fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). PM 2.5 from wildfire smoke is damaging to human health because it can deeply penetrate lung tissue and even affect the heart and circulation.
* *Learn more about fine particles (PM 2.5) and your health [ [link removed] ].*
* *Asthma Emergency Room visits* due to air pollution are more than 5 times higher in Twin Cities communities with greater numbers of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) than in other parts of the cities.
* *Learn about air quality and health. [ [link removed] ]*
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Minnesota Department of Health
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