How To Protect Child From Air Pollution? Do's & Don'ts

With the onset of winter season, air pollution comes to the fore as the biggest problem in Delhi-NCR. Once again people are facing difficulty in breathing due to pollution in Delhi NCR. Most of the concerns are being raised regarding the health of the children. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and its surrounding areas has crossed 450. As a precaution, efforts are also underway to close schools in Delhi NCR. We are going to give you detailed information on all these topics in this blog, the measures to prevent the dangers of air pollution, as well as the precautions you should take for school going children.

In view of the danger of air pollution in Delhi NCR, the state governments have issued new guidelines regarding schools. On Friday, primary schools in Delhi i.e. up to class 5 and in Noida up to class 8 have been closed. Apart from this, at present, the entry of diesel vehicles has also been banned here.The state governments of Delhi and UP have taken this decision due to dense fog engulfing Delhi, Noida in the morning hours and the air quality index reaching 472. Some people are also facing problems in breathing and pollution is proving to be harmful for the health of the lungs as well. It has been decided to make online classes of children from class 1 to 8 in Noida from Friday, it is expected that classes of children from class 9 to 12 can also be taken online. Activities like sports or meetings have been banned in all schools till November 8. On Friday, Delhi recorded 472 Air Quality Index, Gurgaon 539, Noida 562 and Ghaziabad 416 Air Quality Index. According to these figures, the worst situation is in Gurgaon and Noida.

How Air Pollution Impacts Children?

Air pollution is nothing but the presence of many unhealthy particles, chemicals, and gases in the air, which makes it unfit for breathing. This deterioration has happened because of many activities on the planet due to human compulsiveness in the name of commerce. From heavy traffic to burning garbage with extensive emissions from industries, there are many contributors in polluting air. In scientific terms, the quality of the air that we breathe is measured in AQI (Air Quality Index). This index acts as an indicator to make us aware of the quality of the air surrounding us. The increased pollutants (PM units) in the air have made lives prone to many respiratory and skin diseases. And the problem is manifold serious when we talk about children and kids under 5 years of age. [Know More - How Air Pollution Is Affecting Children ?]

Researchers say that a child inhales more air per kilo of their body weight. It means they are in taking more pollutants than adults, so proportionately they are going to be more affected by the toxic gases and micropollutants thriving in the air.

Don't Do with Children During Air Pollution

Firstly understand the “don'ts” with children, when we talk about air pollution. Take these precautions 

• As a parent, always stay updated with the air quality check. Use mobile apps or news feed to be updated with high pollution days.

• Avoid outdoor activities with children during day hours. The active roads and hot sun rays are activators of air pollutants.

• Don't encourage staying outdoor with your kids. Visiting parks or open places are unfit for children during severe pollution hours.

• Staying or stopping near heavy traffic zones is inadvisable with kids.

• Excessive aerobic activities like running or exercises in parks are not good during pollution.

• Avoid smoking to protect the air from worsening.

• Avoid air circulation vent in cars and use air cooling.

Prevention is always better than cure. So just by mending our daily routine and following a healthy diet, we can fight with pollution at a better place. Since children have low immunity levels due to fussy eating habits, they are more reclining in catching illnesses caused by bad air. Many cases of running nose, burning eyes, skin allergies, and pulmonary infections had been alarmingly raised among young children. The worst of this is impaired lungs in a few medical cases. As our cities grapple with smog and toxins, here we sharing some tips to protect family & children [video].

Do's When Air is Too Bad to Breathe

Follow some does when the air is too bad to breathe. Always consider these precautions...

• Try to stay indoors with your children. Encourage indoor activities and plays to avoid more exposure to bad air.

• Opening windows and doors is no more a good act for ventilation in air pollution, however, use air conditions for filtering the air.

• Wearing N99 or N95 masks are always advisable to filter the air kids are breathing when they are out.

• Planting air purifying plants like aloe vera, spider plant or snake plant is highly advisable to keep the home air clean.

• Many options of HEPA air filters are available in the market. That could be an option for at least keeping home air cleaner for children.

What Healthy Balanced Diet to Fight with Pollution?

It will increase immunity and help developing resistance to pollutants(air pollution)

• Vitamin A rich diet includes sweet potatoes, carrots, juices that make stomach membrane resistant to infections.  So include these in your child's diet.

• Vitamin C rich fruits like lemon, oranges are good for strengthening blood vessels and help with better circulation of oxygen in the body.

• Vitamin E is always a natural immunity booster that protects cell damage. Increase the intake of eggs, green leafy vegetables in your child's meal plan for good resistance to pollutants.

• Turmeric milk is a home-made remedy for natural immunity strengthening drink. Having ginger tea will also help your child stay fit from allergies and infections.

There is always a solution to every problem. Uncontrollable air pollution can also be managed with little more care and awareness. I hope the measures discussed precautions suggested here will help in handling pollution, a better way.