Loudoun Pools, Parks Closed Thursday Due To Air Quality Concerns

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Outdoor parks and pools are closed on Thursday in Loudoun County. Officials said air quality concerns due to the wildfires in Canada lead to the closure.

All planned outdoor activities from the Loudoun County parks department and Loudoun County Public Schools are cancelled. Indoor activities may continue a scheduled.

Throughout the region, air quality is considered "code purple."

The highest level of poor air quality — level 6 of 6 — is becoming more widespread over the D.C. area, according to readings from the airnow.gov website.

A Code Purple air quality alert indicates very unhealthy air conditions for the entire public, not just those with respiratory illnesses, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Kraig Troxell is the communications manager for Loudoun County Parks, Recreation, and Community Service.

"While there have been occasions where severe weather and heat and humidity have canceled programs and closed our facilities, this is the first time that we believe air quality has impacted our services," Troxell told Patch. "The safety of Loudoun County residents is of the utmost importance, and we regret any inconvenience to our patrons."

See also: When Will The Smoke Clear In VA, DC? Latest Forecast For Thursday

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should take these precautions:

• Keep outdoor activities short.
• Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
• Staying indoors as much as possible
• Keep your windows closed
• Use an air purifier if possible

Experts recommend that residents take steps to reduce the exposure to low-quality air:

• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.

More information on air quality in the D.C. region is available online.