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Saans

Guide

Smog and children: school runs, play and masks

Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026 · DanixSoft

Children breathe faster than adults and spend more time active, so they take in more polluted air for their size. Below AQI 100 a normal school day is fine. From 151, children should wear a mask for the commute and skip outdoor PE and assembly; above 200, check official closure notices and keep children with asthma at home if you can.

The school run

Saans’s "School run?" answer uses the forecast for 7–9 am on the next school morning, so you can decide the night before. Closures are decided by the government, not by Saans: the official notices are linked on the advisories page.

Masks for children

  • N95 respirators are certified for adults; for children look for a KN95 or similar sold in a child size, and check that it seals around the nose and chin.
  • Do not put a mask on a child under two, or on any child who cannot take it off by themselves.
  • A loose surgical or cloth mask does little against fine particles.

At home

  • Keep windows shut on bad days and run a purifier in the room where the child sleeps.
  • Indoor play instead of the park; keep inhalers where the child (and the school) can reach them.
  • See a doctor for coughing that will not stop, wheezing, or breathing that looks hard.

Questions people ask

Are schools closed because of smog?

Only the provincial government can close schools. Saans lists closure notices only with a link to the official notification; see the advisories page, or the School Education Department, Punjab.

At what AQI should children stay indoors?

Children are a sensitive group: from AQI 101 they should cut long or hard play outside, from 151 move it indoors, and above 200 avoid outdoor activity altogether.