How to stay safe during air quality alerts on these hot summer days

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Warmer days often come with poor air quality. 22News spoke with an expert on the correlation between the two and how to stay safe during air quality advisories.

An Air Quality Alert is in effect for central and eastern Hampden and Hampshire Counties until 11 p.m. Tuesday for unhealthy air for sensitive groups.

Western Massachusetts has seen a week’s worth of 90 degree days, many coming with poor air quality. Bad air quality usually means air quality index values above 100.

Sarita Hudson with the Public Health Institute of western Massachusetts explains the correlation with between hot days and poor air quality, “With these high heat days, you also track with high ozone days and that’s why we feel like we can’t breathe well, and for people who have asthma or heart disease, walking outside just really is tough.”

Air quality sensors are set up all around western Massachusetts , such as one at the Springfield Museums, to measure air quality in your area. The censor measured two spikes in high ozone over the past week. The conditions can make going outside dangerous even for relatively health people. However, there are some ways to curb the symptoms.

“Make sure that you carry your inhalers or you have your medication, you’re taking that properly. You want to take a lot of breaks, you want to stay in the shade if you can. There’s a big difference between the shade and in the sun,” said Hudson.

The American Lung Association reports that over 150,000 people in Massachusetts suffer from some form of respiratory disease.

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Jack Wu joined the 22News Storm Team in July 2023. Follow Jack on X @the_jackwu and view his bio to see more of his work.

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