Air pollution – How to protect our children

Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution because their airways are narrower, they breathe faster relative to body size, and they spend more time outdoors playing. The most effective approach is to reduce exposure on high-pollution days, keep indoor air clean, and manage asthma or allergies proactively.

Check AQI daily

• Check a reliable AQI app or government air-quality source each morning, especially in Delhi-NCR during winter.

• If AQI is poor/very poor, shift outdoor play, sports, and school travel to indoor alternatives when possible.

• If going outside is unavoidable, avoid strenuous activity—running, cycling, football, or outdoor PT—because deep, rapid breathing increases pollutant inhalation.

Time outdoor activity wisely

• Pollution is often higher in early morning and late evening; choose midday for essential outdoor activity when air tends to be relatively cleaner.

• Avoid busy roads, traffic junctions, construction sites, and areas with visible smoke or dust. Walking on the side of the pavement farther from traffic and using quieter routes can reduce exposure.

• For infants and young children, avoid unnecessary outdoor trips on severe-pollution days.

Make home air safer

• Keep windows and doors closed during peak pollution hours, but ventilate briefly when outdoor air improves.

• Use a HEPA-filter air purifier, particularly in the child’s bedroom and main play area; replace filters as recommended.

• Do not smoke or vape indoors, in the car, or near doors/windows; third-hand smoke on clothes can also expose children.

• Avoid incense sticks, candles, mosquito coils, strong room fresheners, wood burning, and dry dusting. Mop floors and damp-dust surfaces instead.

• If renovating, keep the child away from dust and ensure good ventilation.

Masks and travel

• A well-fitted KN95/FFP2-type mask may help older children who must be outdoors during poor air quality; it is less practical for toddlers and may not fit small faces properly.

• In cars, keep windows closed, use recirculation mode when outdoor air is poor, and avoid idling near traffic.

• Encourage school authorities to reduce idling, plan indoor activities on high-AQI days, and avoid outdoor assemblies or sports during pollution peaks.

Protect high-risk children

Children with asthma, recurrent wheeze, allergic rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, or prematurity need extra caution. Keep their inhalers/preventive medicines available and follow the treating pediatrician’s written action plan during pollution spikes.

Seek medical advice promptly for:

• Persistent cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or breathlessness

• Increased inhaler need or poor response to reliever medication

• Bluish lips, severe lethargy, or difficulty speaking in full sentences—this needs urgent care.

For Delhi-NCR families, the highest-yield measures are usually: monitor AQI, keep the child’s bedroom air clean, avoid outdoor exertion on bad-AQI days, and ensure smoke-free surroundings.