Smog and air pollution: how to protect yourself
High levels of particles in the air. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone app and work without internet.
First, right now
- Check the current air quality index for your area, for example the European Air Quality Index or your national air quality service.
- When the index is poor or very poor, only go out when you have to. This matters most for children, older people, pregnant women and people with heart or lung disease.
- Close windows and doors. If you have an air purifier with a HEPA filter, run it in the room where you spend most time.
Then
- Skip running, cycling and hard exercise outdoors. Exercise indoors instead.
- If you must be outside for a long time, wear a filtering mask (for example FFP2) that seals well around your nose and mouth.
- Do not add pollution indoors: no smoking, fewer candles, and vacuum with a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner.
- People with asthma or COPD: keep your medicines at hand and follow the treatment plan agreed with your doctor.
- Air your home once the index improves to moderate or better.
- See someone burning rubbish? Report it to your local authority.
When to call 112
Shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, blue lips, or an asthma attack that does not ease with medicine.
What not to do
- Do not exercise outdoors when the index is poor or very poor.
- Do not leave windows open overnight during smog.
- Do not rely on loose cloth or surgical masks. Only a well-fitting filtering mask protects against fine dust.
See also
Frequently asked questions
When is smog dangerous to health?
When the air quality index is poor, people in risk groups should avoid being outdoors. When it is very poor, everyone should keep time outside to a minimum.
Does a face mask protect against smog?
Only a filtering mask (such as FFP2) that seals well around the face. Loose cloth and surgical masks let fine dust through.
Should I air my home during smog?
No. Keep windows closed and air the home once air quality improves. An air purifier with a HEPA filter helps indoors.
Keep it on your phone
SurvivalZone is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.
Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.
Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.
Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
- 🔥 Fire in the building
- 🌡️ Heatwave
- 🌪️ Storm, strong wind
- 🚀 Air attack: missiles, drones, bombs
- 📢 Sirens, alarm, air contamination
- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- ❄️ Stuck in a car in a snowstorm
- 🌩️ Thunderstorm outdoors
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, dangerous infectious disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
- 🫁 Choking
- 🩸 Severe bleeding
- 🔥 Burns and scalds
Sources
- EEA: European Air Quality Index
- GIOŚ (Poland): air quality index health advice
- GIOŚ (Poland): current air quality data
- German Environment Agency (UBA): smog and health
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-10-22.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.