Air Quality Flag
                                            PROGRAM
                                        Fact Sheet
What Is the Air Quality Flag Program?
The Flag Program uses brightly colored flags based
on the U.S. EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI) to notify
people and their communities about outdoor air
quality conditions. Organizations raise a flag each
day that corresponds to their local air quality
forecast.
Why Is the Flag Program Important?
The Flag Program creates public awareness of
outdoor air quality conditions. People can continue
to get plenty of physical activity, while still
protecting their health from poor air quality. When
air quality is unhealthy, people can modify their
activities, or move them inside. Recommendations
for outdoor activities on poor air quality days can be
found at www.airnow.gov/flag.


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 Flag Program uses green, yellow, orange, red and
purple flags. These colors correspond to the Air
Quality Index.
   green
              Green means air quality is good.
                                                      yellow
                Yellow means air quality is
                moderate.
                Orange means air quality is
I                unhealthy for sensitive groups ~
    orange  ^^^^          '
                people with heart disease or lung
 disease such as asthma, children & teens, people
 who are active outdoors, 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-13-004
                                      April 2015

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