Air Quality Index (AQI) Flag Program

​​​​​​​The Air Quality Index (AQI) Flag Program, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), helps children, parents, the community, and staff become aware of daily outdoor air quality conditions using brightly-colored flags. 

Each day, a flag is raised in front of participating entities that signal the level of air pollution for that day. The flag colors correspond to the colors used in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Air Quality Index, which tells how clean or polluted the air is for that day. When members of the surrounding community know what the daily air quality is, they can adjust their activities—such as exercising or working outdoors—to reduce their exposure to air pollution. The purpose of the flag program is to help people continue to exercise and/or work outside while protecting their health when the air quality is less than ideal or unhealthy.​​

The Air Quality Index

Each day, a brightly-colored flag is raised that corresponds to the local air quality forecast:

  • Green flag – good air quality
  • Yellow flag – moderate air quality
  • Orange flag – unhealthy for sensitive groups (including all children and people with asthma)

Note: There are three more colors – red, purple, and maroon respectively-- used in the EPA’s Air Quality Index. They indicate unhealthy (red), very unhealthy (purple), and hazardous (maroon) air quality. They are not included in the Broward County AQI School Flag Program because these conditions are rare in South Florida. In the event we do experience unhealthy, very unhealthy, or hazardous air quality, health advisories will be issued from Broward County's Air Program in the local media.

Benefits of Participating:

To help keep the community safe when air quality is not adequate. 

Air quality can become unhealthy due to pollutants such as ground-level ozone and particle pollution. Ozone is especially damaging to the lungs of children and those who work and play outside. Particle pollution—especially fine particles such as those found in smoke, haze or dust—contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Children (from babies to 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. The elderly and/or people with asthma are also more likely to have symptoms when pollution is in the air. Children, including those with asthma, can sometimes continue to stay active even when air quality is less than ideal by modifying their activities or, in some cases, moving their activities indoors. ​

How does the Broward AQI School Flag Program work?

Email airoutreach@broward.org so our team can coordinate with you!

Once your school and/or classroom officially decide to participate, our team will then provide the selected organization, FREE of charge, with all the materials needed to implement the program including flags, an Air Quality Index poster board, and other informational materials if needed.

The program will require each participating organization to:

  • Select a AQI Flag Program Coordinator.
  • Have the AQI Flag Program Coordinator work closely with our staff to establish the program.
  • Check the air quality each morning via one of the following options:
    • AirNow website
    • Subscribing to EnviroFlash which allows anyone to get the daily air quality forecast sent to your email or cell phone.
    • Through the Air Now Mobile Application (available on Android and Apple).
  • Coordinate with their staff to hang the corresponding flag daily (or as needed) which represents that particular day’s air quality forecast.
  • Post the Air Quality Index Poster Board in a high-traffic area to educate students, staff, parents, and community about the AQI.

Frequently Asked Questions
  1. My organization is interested in participating, so how do we register?
    Your organization can register with the Broward County Air Program by emailing airoutreach@broward.org
  2. How much do the flags cost?
    A set of 3 flags (1 green, 1 yellow, and 1 orange) will be provided FREE of charge by Broward County's Air Program, but can also be requested via the EPA​.
  3. If I need assistance or have any questions relating to the program, who do I contact?
    You can email airoutreach@broward.org or call 954-519-1270.