An air quality alert was issued in effect until Saturday at 5:45 p.m. for Jefferson and Shelby counties.

“The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, ADEM, has issued an Air Quality Alert for Jefferson and Shelby counties for Saturday, June 22. Under Code Orange conditions, ground level ozone concentrations are expected to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children and people with asthma are individuals most at risk under these expected conditions. ADEM recommends the following actions during an air quality alert for ozone: Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature. Limit driving and combine errands. Use the bus or car pool to work. Avoid use of gasoline power lawn and garden equipment. Refuel cars and trucks after 6 p.m. Limit engine idling. Use household, workshop, and garden chemicals in ways that keep evaporation to a minimum, or try to avoid them when poor air quality is forecast. If breathing becomes difficult, move indoors,” states the National Weather Service.

Guidance for air quality alerts: Insights from the weather service

When an air quality alert is in effect, following the weather service guidance is pivotal. Here are some simple tips from the weather service for safeguarding your well-being:

1. Retreat indoors whenever feasible:

• If you can, take refuge indoors, especially if you have respiratory concerns, underlying health conditions, or belong to the senior or child demographics.

2. Trim outdoor activities:

• When venturing outside becomes unavoidable, limit your outdoor exposure strictly to essential tasks. Reducing your time outdoors is the name of the game.

3. Scale back pollution-inducing practices:

• Be mindful of activities that increase pollution, like driving cars, operating gas-powered lawnmowers, or using motorized vehicles. Limit their usage during air quality alerts.

4. Banish open burning:

• Refrain from kindling fires with debris or any other materials during an air quality alert. Such practices only contribute to heightened air pollution.

5. Stay informed:

• Stay updated by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news outlet. Staying informed helps you make wise choices regarding outdoor activities during air quality alerts.

6. Respiratory health caution:

• If you have respiratory issues or health problems, exercise extra caution. These conditions can make you more vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor air quality.

Following the recommendations from the weather service helps bolster your safety during air quality alerts, minimizing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay vigilant, stay protected, and make your health the top priority.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.