2024 Air Quality Awareness Week Toolkit

Every May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosts Air Quality Awareness Week. AQAW 2024 will be celebrated from May 6-10.

EPA is partnering with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as state, local, and Tribal agencies to share information with the public about efforts to protect and improve air quality. This week also includes World Asthma Day on Tuesday, May 7^th.

The theme this year is, “Knowing Your Air”. Air Quality Awareness Week highlights resources that increase air quality awareness and encourages people to take action and incorporate air quality knowledge into their daily living. This year, resources and activities that are especially useful for students and teachers will be featured throughout our AQAW webpages.

Air Quality Awareness Week also provides an opportunity for people to learn about what causes poor air quality and how people can prepare for, and respond to, events and environments with poor air quality – not just during the month of May, but year-round!

On each day of AQAW, we will feature an important air quality topic and share information and resources related to that topic.

The topics for AQAW 2024 are:

Monday, May 6 - Wildland Fires and Smoke
Tuesday, May 7 - Asthma and Your Health
Wednesday, May 8 - Air Quality and Climate
Thursday, May 9 - Air Quality and Environmental Justice
Friday, May 10 - Air, Animals and Plants

Promote Air Quality Awareness In Your Community

Air Quality Awareness Week 2024 is May 6–May 10. This timeframe corresponds with the beginning of ozone season, wildfire season, and World Asthma Day. This creates a great opportunity to engage your community in air quality awareness activities. Air quality awareness is more than just understanding the Air Quality Index forecast that utilizes the color code system. Air quality awareness includes education about the air in your specific area and what associated health effects might be a concern for your community. Understanding the importance of the air quality forecasts and their direct relation to health impacts will help you choose between finding the best time for children to play outside during Code Orange air quality days or reducing exposure by simply rescheduling an activity for a time when air quality is expected to be better.

Here are some ways to engage your community on air quality awareness:

Host a Virtual Community Health Fair or other public events that feature air quality awareness information. Coordinate with your local health department, local health care providers, and other health-focused groups to organize exhibits and education sessions, and distribute materials.

Partner with Schools to provide air quality awareness education to students and staff. Contact local high school and junior high school science and health departments to arrange for special presentations about the importance of air quality awareness. Use this opportunity to provide a real-time demonstration of how students can find the current AQI for their areas.

EPA's AirNow website has several activities for students, parents, and teachers to learn more about air quality.

Hold an Air Quality Awareness Poster Contest. Encourage local schools, daycares, and after-school programs to participate in a creative contest commemorating Air Quality Awareness Week. Partner with local businesses or non-profit groups to co-sponsor activities, participant on the review panel, and offer incentives or prizes for the chosen winners.

Join us on Social Media

Throughout the week, we will be posting about AQAW and the importance of air quality awareness. You can join us by tagging us and using the hashtags below.

Social Media Accounts

X	Facebook	Instagram
@AIRNow	AirNow	@epagov
@EPAair	EPA Clean Air Markets Division
@EPAairmarkets

Hashtags

#AQAW2024	#AirQualityIndex	#Wildfires
#AirQuality	#ClimateChange	#SmokeReady
#FlagProgram	#FireAndSmokeMap	#AirAnimalsAndPlants
#AirSensorToolbox	#SmokeReady	#EnvironmentalJustice
#WorldAsthmaDay	#IndoorAir	#EJScreen
#AsthmaAwarenessMonth	#AirQualityResearch	#Asthma
#WildlandFiresAndSmoke	#AsthmaAndYourHealth	#AirQualityAndEJ
#Ecosystems	#AirQualityAndClimate	#AirNow

Sample Posts

Air Quality Awareness Week is May 6-10! Check out the #AQAW2024 website and follow @airnow for info and resources on how @EPA and its partners are working together for clean air: https://epa.gov/aqaw

Have you checked your #AQI today? Knowing the air quality in your community can help you better plan your daily activities. Learn more at https://epa.gov/aqaw #AQAW2024

May 7^th is #WorldAsthmaDay! Did you know that #AirQuality can greatly impact people with asthma and other respiratory conditions? Learn more at https://epa.gov/aqaw #AQAW2024

🌬️Curious about your air? Download the AirNow app to check current and forecasted air quality information and plan your daily activities to protect your health: https://www.airnow.gov/airnow-mobile-app/ #AQAW2024 #AirNow

How much do you know about air quality? Share your area's #AQI during Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10) by tagging @airnow on social media! #AQAW2024

May is #AsthmaAwarenessMonth! #Asthma affects the quality of life of over 24 million Americans and their families. Help us raise awareness this month by learning and sharing ways to manage asthma and asthma triggers. https://www.epa.gov/asthma #AQAW2024

The #EJScreen tool uses maps and datasets to display environmental justice indicators and help you understand how your community might be impacted. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen #AirQualityAndEJ #AQAW2024

Develop a plan. 📝 Environmental factors can trigger or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Work with a health professional to develop an asthma action plan to control asthma triggers in your environment. #AsthmaAwarenessMonth #AQAW2024 https://www.epa.gov/asthma/asthma-action-plan

Did you know that using a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter can help reduce asthma triggers like wood smoke and pet allergens? #AsthmaAwarenessMonth #AQAW2024 https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home

Did you know? Checking the Air Quality Index on local weather reports or at www.airnow.gov and limiting time outside when air quality is poor can protect you from asthma symptoms. #AsthmaAwarenessMonth #AQAW2024 www.epa.gov/asthma/asthma-triggers-gain-control

Every year asthma keeps American children out of school for over 13.8 million days. Here's how you can reduce asthma at your school. #AsthmaAwarenessMonth #AQAW2024 https://www.epa.gov/asthma/asthma-improving-health-communities-and-schools

@EPA scientists are developing innovative solutions for air quality and air pollution problems, including emerging challenges related to #ClimateChange and wildfires. Discover our ongoing research at https://www.epa.gov/air-research/. #AQAW2024

In celebration of #AQAW2024, we look back on significant @EPA research milestones that address air pollution and human health. https://www.epa.gov/research/milestones-epas-air-quality-research-history

@EPA's #AirSensorToolbox provides the latest science on the performance, operation, and use of air sensor monitoring systems. Learn more about understanding your air quality at https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox #AQAW2024

🧑‍🏫Teach your students about air quality with air sensors! @EPA helped develop five free, adaptable lesson plans. Learn more at https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/five-hands-lesson-plans-using-air-sensors-teach-about-air-quality #STEM #AQAW2024