Breathe Easy This Winter: Why Indoor Air Quality Is Key to Staying Healthy

As winter approaches, now is the time to ensure our homes, schools, and workplaces are ready to face the increased risk of respiratory infections. Experts predict a challenging season due to the continued presence of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, so understanding how indoor air quality impacts disease transmission is critical.

What’s the Risk This Winter? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we may see a similar or even lower number of respiratory infection hospitalizations than last year. However, uncertainty remains—vaccine effectiveness, viral mutations, and public health behaviors will determine the season's severity.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters Decades of research have shown that poorly ventilated spaces contribute to respiratory infections. Improving indoor air quality reduces the spread of airborne pathogens, lowers sick leave rates, and boosts productivity. Studies have even demonstrated that better ventilation can save businesses money by keeping their workforce healthier.

Steps to Improve Indoor Air Quality This Winter Here are simple but effective steps you can take to reduce the spread of infectious diseases indoors:

• Increase outdoor air intake: Open windows or run your HVAC system to bring in as much fresh air as possible.
• Use high-quality filters: Filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 13 or higher can capture 90% of airborne particles.
• Employ air purifiers: Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters can provide additional protection in high-risk areas.
• Maintain your HVAC system: Ensure it’s functioning correctly and adjust for maximum fresh air flow.

Ventilation: A Proven Strategy for Reducing Infection Research highlights the importance of proper ventilation and air filtration in preventing the spreading of diseases like COVID-19 and flu. The CDC recommends five or more air changes per hour for clean air in indoor spaces and the use of MERV-13 filters or better.

Looking Ahead As we prepare for this winter’s respiratory disease season, improving indoor air quality should be a priority in every space we occupy. By making these adjustments, we can reduce the transmission of harmful pathogens and protect the health of our communities.

Let’s commit to healthier indoor spaces this season.

#CommitToCARE #IndoorAirQuality #WinterSafety #InfectiousDiseasePrevention #HealthyWorkplaces