People who are fragile, such as young children and the elderly, are particularly at risk from air pollution, which exposes them to dangerous particulate matter or airborne particles like dust, soot, smoke, etc. Toxic air may weaken a child’s immune system, making them more vulnerable to illnesses like pneumonia and bronchiolitis, which is an inflammation of the bronchioles. Air pollution affects people in the short and long term and can potentially raise the risk of lung cancer and heart disease.
1. Indoor air quality
Improve indoor air quality via air purifiers, appropriate ventilation, and minimizing interior sources of pollution, like tobacco smoke and culinary emissions.
Use government information and air quality monitoring tools to stay up to date on local air quality. Recognize days with bad air quality, particularly when pollution levels are high.
The Air Quality Index, or AQI for short, gauges how polluted the air is. Check the daily air pollution forecasts for your area. The color-coded forecasts let you know when the air quality in your neighborhood is poor.
2. Limit your time spent outside
Limit your outside activities on days with poor air quality, especially in the afternoons when pollution levels are usually higher. Promote indoor recreation and indoor pastimes.
Promote frequent exercise, but on days with bad air quality, think about doing yoga, dance, or other indoor activities. Ensure indoor areas for physical activity at your child’s school are suitable.
3. Encourage a healthy diet.
A nutritious, well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and healthy fats may help protect against some of the harmful effects of air pollution.
To strengthen your immunity, make sure you are taking the required levels of vitamins. Herbal green tea can help counteract some of the adverse effects.
4. When you’re outside, wear a mask.
Although they don’t offer total protection from contaminated air, face masks are useful if the air quality is particularly bad on any given day. Although the most basic masks can filter out larger particles like dust, industrial masks are believed to be the most effective. Some masks may have disposable respirators and are labeled N-95 or P-100.
5. Place plants that filter the air in your house.
Certain plants have a reputation for lowering air pollution and purifying indoor air. They are beneficial to have in both homes and offices. These plants might not work as well as air purifiers. Nonetheless, they are incredibly economical and cost-effective.
6. Cook, heat, and light your house with cleaner fuels and technologies.
Select solar stoves or ovens, electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or biogas if at all possible.
To let heat and pollutants escape, make sure the cooking area has adequate ventilation by opening windows and utilizing exhaust fans. If your kitchen is difficult to ventilate, think about cooking outside if you can.
Recognize additional typical sources of indoor pollutants, such as household chemicals, cleaning supplies, and paint and building materials. Avoid using air fresheners that release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, as well as burning candles and incense.
7. Make changes at home
Make an effort to spend less time in places with high pollution levels, such as those close to or surrounding areas with heavy traffic or industrial pollution sources. Exposure can be decreased by traveling during the hours of the day when air pollution is at its lowest.
Children are frequently enthusiastic about the environment, and many people find that halting climate change is very important. Youngsters should be aware of the dangers air pollution poses to the ecosystem and their health. They ought to be aware of how dangerous their air can be and what they can do to lessen it and safeguard themselves.
Explore Vega Schools’ insights on Cleanliness is Next to Godliness: Why Hygiene Matters. Read More.
Vega Schools offers holistic education to children in Delhi NCR and is rated among the top Schools in Gurgaon. Its modern infrastructure, facilities, and experienced teachers are a big asset to the learning & development of students, be it for Nursery, Primary or Senior children making Vega Schools the best schools in Gurgaon. For information about admission please visit the Vega Schools campuses in Sector 48 and Sector 76 Gurugram.