Outdoor Activity Guidelines

General Guidelines
Guidelines for Schools

Real-Time Outdoor Activity Guidelines Based on PM2.5 Concentration

Air Quality	Good	Moderate	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy	Hazardous
Guidance	No restrictions: It's a great day to be active outside.	Highly sensitive individuals: Consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier. Everyone else: It's a good day to be active outside.	Sensitive groups: Reduce prolonged exposure or heavy exertion. It's okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intensive activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with Asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy. If you have heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. Everyone else: It's okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intensive activities.	Sensitive groups: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling. Everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during outdoor activities.	Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activities outdoors. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when air quality is better. Everyone else: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality is better.	Sensitive groups: Remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors. Workplace: May consider closing if not essential to public health. Everyone else: Avoid all physical activity outdoors.
PM2.5 AQI	0.0 – 12.0 µg/m³ 1 – 50	12.1 – 35.4 µg/m³ 51 – 100	35.5 – 55.4 µg/m³ 101 – 150	55.5 – 150.4 µg/m³ 151 – 200	150.5 – 250.4 µg/m³ 201 – 300	≥250.5 µg/m³ ≥301
AQI is based on 24-hour average PM2.5 conentration. Guidelines are based on hourly PM2.5 concentration.

Air Quality

Good

Moderate

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Unhealthy

Very Unhealthy

Hazardous

Guidance

No restrictions: It's a great day to be active outside.

Highly sensitive individuals: Consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier.

Everyone else: It's a good day to be active outside.

Sensitive groups: Reduce prolonged exposure or heavy exertion. It's okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intensive activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

People with Asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy.

If you have heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.

Everyone else: It's okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intensive activities.

Sensitive groups: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling.

Everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during outdoor activities.

Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activities outdoors. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when air quality is better.

Everyone else: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality is better.

Sensitive groups: Remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors.

Workplace: May consider closing if not essential to public health.

Everyone else: Avoid all physical activity outdoors.

PM2.5

AQI

0.0 – 12.0 µg/m³

1 – 50

12.1 – 35.4 µg/m³

51 – 100

35.5 – 55.4 µg/m³

101 – 150

55.5 – 150.4 µg/m³

151 – 200

150.5 – 250.4 µg/m³

201 – 300

≥250.5 µg/m³

≥301

AQI is based on 24-hour average PM2.5 conentration. Guidelines are based on hourly PM2.5 concentration.

Real-Time Outdoor Activity Guidelines for Schools Based on PM2.5 Concentration

Air Quality	Good	Moderate	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy	Hazardous
Recess (15 minutes)	No restrictions.	Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	Sensitive individuals should exercise indoors or avoid vigorous outdoor activities.	Exercise indoors or avoid vigorous outdoor activities. Sensitive individuals should remain indoors.	No outdoor activity. All activities should be moved indoors.	No outdoor or indoor activities.
P.E. (1 hour)	No restrictions.	Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	Sensitive individuals should exercise indoors or avoid vigorous outdoor activities.	Exercise indoors or limit vigorous outdoor activities to a maximum of 15 minutes. Sensitive individuals should remain indoors.	No outdoor activity. All activities should be moved indoors.	No outdoor or indoor activities.
Athletic Practice & Training (2-4 hours)	No restrictions.	Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	Reduce vigorous exercise to 30 min per hour of practice time with increased breaks and substitutions. Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	Exercise indoors or reduce vigorous exercise to 30 minutes of practice time with increased rest breaks and substitutions. Sensitive individuals should remain indoors.	No outdoor activity. All activities should be moved indoors.	No outdoor or indoor activities.
Scheduled Sporting Events	No restrictions.	Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	Increase rest breaks and substitutions per CIF guidelines for extreme heat. Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	Increase rest breaks and substitutions per CIF guidelines for extreme heat. Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their condition.	No outdoor activity. All activities should be moved indoors.	No outdoor or indoor activities.
PM2.5 AQI	0.0 – 12.0 µg/m³ 1 – 50	12.1 – 35.4 µg/m³ 51 – 100	35.5 – 55.4 µg/m³ 101 – 150	55.5 – 150.4 µg/m³ 151 – 200	150.5 – 250.4 µg/m³ 201 – 300	≥250.5 µg/m³ ≥301
AQI is based on 24-hour average PM2.5 conentration. Guidelines are based on hourly PM2.5 concentration.