Choctaw Nation is Providing the Tools to Help Residents Monitor Outdoor Air Quality

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Environmental Protection Service (CNO EPS) is making it easier for residents to stay informed about air quality with two new initiatives: a real-time air quality dashboard and an Air Quality Flag Program installed at CNO Head Starts.

According to the American Lung Association, one in three people in the U.S. will breathe in unhealthy air that can impact their health. By providing tools to monitor outdoor air quality, CNO EPS is empowering the community to take proactive steps to safeguard their health.

While air pollution affects everyone, certain groups are more vulnerable, including:

• People with heart or lung disease
• People active outdoors
• Older adults
• Children
• Outdoor workers

CNO’s programs utilize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) to indicate air quality. AQI utilizes a color-coded system that makes it easy to understand air quality conditions at a glance.

• Green = good air quality
• Yellow = moderate
• Orange = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Red = unhealthy
• Purple = very unhealthy
• Maroon = hazardous

Air quality monitoring at your fingertips

In partnership with JustAir, CNO EPS now offers a real-time air quality dashboard tailored for the Choctaw Nation reservation. Residents can:

• View daily air quality conditions in their area
• Receive location-specific alerts straight to their phones

Air Quality Flag Program helps keep educators and parents informed

In addition to the air quality dashboard, CNO EPS has installed air quality indication flags at all Choctaw Nation Head Start locations across the reservation.

The color-coded flag system is designed to help educators, parents, and community members easily understand daily air pollution levels. Each morning, staff will raise a flag—green, yellow, orange, red, or purple—indicating the day’s air quality and any necessary precautions.

Why monitoring air quality is important

Poor air quality can lead to serious health problems and impact how you live and breathe. With air quality notifications and the Air Quality Flag program, individuals can take simple steps to reduce exposure to unhealthy air.

On days when the air quality is orange, red, purple, or maroon:

• Reduce time outdoors.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Consider wearing a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask, as they have better filtration capabilities.
• Keep indoor air clean – close windows and doors, use air conditioning on the recirculate setting, or run a HEPA air purifier