The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for Wednesday in our area. This includes Bartholomew, Jackson, Brown, Johnson, Morgan and Shelby counties.

IDEM is encouraging you to take the following steps to reduce ozone:

• Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
• Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
• Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above

Health officials say that those sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.