School Flag
                                         PROGRAM
                 School  Flag Program:  Fact Sheet
What Is The School Flag Program?
The School Flag Program uses brightly colored
flags based on U.S. EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI)
to notify teachers, coaches, students, and others
about outdoor air quality conditions. Schools raise
a flag each day that corresponds to their local air
quality forecast.
Why Is This Program Important?
The School Flag Program creates public awareness
of outdoor air quality conditions. Children can
continue to get plenty of physical activity, while
still protecting their health from poor air quality.
Children (including teenagers) are at greater risk
from air pollution because their lungs are still
developing and they breathe more air per pound
of body weight than adults. When air quality is
unhealthy, activities can often be modified or
moved inside. Recommendations for outdoor
activities on poor air quality days can be found at
www.airnow.gov/schoolflag.

What Is The Air Quality Index?
The Air Quality Index is a guide for reporting daily
air quality. It uses colors and numbers to show how
clean or polluted the air is. EPA uses the Air Quality
Index to report ground-level ozone and particle
pollution. For each pollutant, EPA  has established
national standards to protect people's health.


EPA Flag Program Contact
Donna Rogers
US Environmental Protection Agency
Email: rogers.donna@epa.gov
What Do The Colors Mean?
The School Flag Program uses green, yellow, orange,
red and purple flags.These colors correspond to the
Air Quality Index.
   orange
                                                            Green means air quality is good.
   yellow        Yellow means air quality is
              acceptable.
Orange means air quality is
unhealthy for sensitive groups --
people with lung disease such as
asthma, children, and older adults.
              Red means air quality is unhealthy.
              Purple means air quality is very
              unhealthy.
How Will I Know What Color Flag To Use?
Check the AQI at www.epa.gov/airnow. Sign up for
emails (www.airnow.gov/enviroflash), download the
AirNow app, or install the AirNow widget on your
website.
             United States
             Environmental Protection
             Agency
                              EPA-456/F-13-001
                                  March 2013

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