First Spare the Air Alert of the year issued in the Sacramento area

(FOX40.COM) — Air quality officials in the Sacramento area issued the first Spare the Air Alert of the year for Friday and Saturday due to the bad air quality brought on in part by smoke from wildfires and Fourth of July fireworks, increased driving because of the holiday weekend, and the high heat.

Officials from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District said the Air Quality Index was expected to be at or above 143 on both days, which means the air is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as those with respiratory conditions.

Spare the Air Alerts are issued when levels reach 126. At 151, the air is considered unhealthy for many members of the public, with more serious health effects for sensitive groups.

The AQI is based on measures of five major air pollutants :
• ground-level zone
• particle pollution (also known as particulate matter)
• carbon monoxide
• sulfur dioxide
• nitrogen dioxide

To help improve air quality , officials said people could take several actions:
• drive less
• prepare meals so there’s less need for driving to restaurants/stores
• carpool with family, friends and coworkers
• use public transit
• if you need to drive, combine all errands and tasks into one trip
• work from home, if possible

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