Minnesota Outdoor Air Quality Guidance for Schools and Child Care

Wildfires can generate enormous amounts of smoke that produce poor air quality for Minnesota. Wildfires can make air unhealthy and harm people, including those with asthma, heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. While air pollution affects everyone, children and youth are particularly vulnerable because their bodies are still developing and they breathe in more air than adults for their body weight.

MDH created this guidance document in a collaborative effort to work alongside schools and child care facilities statewide. The goal of this outdoor air guidance is to lower the risk of negative impacts to children’s health due to poor air quality events.