Delhi Govt Advises Against Morning Walks Due to Air Pollution

Avoiding outdoor activities due to poor air quality

With rising concerns over the deteriorating air quality, an advisory was issued by the Delhi Government recently, recommending that you should avoid morning walks and other forms of physical exercises in light of the ongoing health emergency. This advisory is particularly important for pregnant women, individuals with underlying health conditions, children, and the elderly, urging them to avoid exposure to the polluted air.

Locations to avoid during high pollution days

To minimize exposure to the polluted air, it’s suggested that you should steer clear of places with high levels of pollution, such as heavy traffic roads, areas near polluting industries, and construction or demolition sites.

Avoiding physical exercises during high AQI days

The advisory stresses that outdoor morning and late evening walks, jogging, and running should also be avoided, especially during days when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is severe.

Tips to minimize exposure to air pollution

In addition to avoiding certain locations and activities, the Government advises against smoking tobacco products, burning mosquito coils, incense sticks, wood, leaves, crop residues, and waste in closed premises.

To further protect yourself from the harmful impact of air pollution, it’s advised to wash your eyes with running water regularly, gargle with lukewarm water, and maintain a balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables.

In case of any discomfort, such as breathlessness, giddiness, cough, chest discomfort or pain, or irritation in eyes (red or watery), it’s recommended to consult a doctor immediately. Smaller lifestyle changes, such as using public transport or car pools, practicing wet mopping instead of sweeping in homes and workplaces could also contribute to minimizing the impact of air pollution.

Air quality improvement after rain

On Friday, much-needed respite was brought by overnight rain, which improved the city’s air quality to some extent. At 7:00 am on Saturday, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded to be 219.