Haze and Swimming in Singapore: A Parent's Guide

Haze and Swimming in Singapore: A Parent’s Guide Whether your child can swim during haze depends on the air quality reading, how long and how hard they will be exercising, and how their own body reacts. Health authorities in Singapore do not ask for blanket avoidance. They ask for a risk-based adjustment of activity . That means lighter lessons when the air is moderate, and no lessons when it is clearly unhealthy. This guide shows which readings to check, what the official bands mean for children, how ActiveSG pools respond, and how we handle haze at Oyougu Aquatics. OyouguAquatics Swimming Lessons With Safety in Mind Oyougu Aquatics teaches children at ActiveSG pools across Singapore, with a structured SwimSafer 2.0 curriculum and a 1:6 coach-to-student ratio. Explore swimming lessons Key takeaways For a decision right now, use the 1-hour PM2.5 reading. For tomorrow’s lesson, use the 24-hour PSI forecast. Children count as a vulnerable group. At PM2.5 Band 2 (56 to 150 µg/m³), the national guide asks them to avoid strenuous activity. Pools can close at short notice. Check the ActiveSG facilities closure page before you leave home. Our lessons continue with gentler, technique-focused activities when readings are elevated. They are cancelled and not charged when readings are unhealthy. Your child’s own reaction matters more than any number. If they cough, have itchy eyes or feel unwell, keep them home. Table of Contents What haze is, and why it comes back Two readings, two decisions What happens at ActiveSG pools Is swimming in haze actually harmful? Our haze policy at Oyougu Aquatics Our perspective: calm decisions, one reading at a time Keeping progress going when haze interrupts lessons Lessons that suit your family FAQ Sources What haze is, and why it comes back Singapore’s haze is mostly transboundary. The National Environment Agency explains that it comes from forest fires in the region, started when open burning is used to clear land. Dry seasons, shifting winds and low rainfall make it worse. That is why it tends to arrive in spells rather than all year, and why conditions can improve or worsen within hours. The main concern is fine particulate matter, which can irritate the airways. The Ministry of Health says that for healthy people, short-term exposure usually causes only minor irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. It also says to watch your child’s own response, because sensitivity varies a great deal. Two readings, two decisions Most confusion comes from mixing up two numbers. Both are on the NEA haze website and in the myENV app. Reading Best used for Why 1-hour PM2.5 Deciding whether to go to a lesson now It shows current conditions, which can change quickly with the wind 24-hour PSI Planning tomorrow’s lessons It is the standard forecast metric for next-day planning The haze.gov.sg planning guide recommends the 1-hour PM2.5 reading for immediate activities. Even when a pool stays open, local air can change fast, so the hourly figure is usually more useful than the daily average on the morning of a lesson. The 1-hour PM2.5 bands The same planning guide sets out four bands: Band 1 (0 to 55 µg/m³): normal activity can continue. Band 2 (56 to 150 µg/m³): reduce strenuous activity. Vulnerable persons, including children, should avoid strenuous activity. Band 3 (151 to 250 µg/m³): everyone should avoid strenuous activity. Vulnerable persons should avoid all outdoor activity. Band 4 (251 µg/m³ and above): minimise all outdoor activity. The 24-hour PSI ranges for children According to NEA’s guidance : Unhealthy (101 to 200): children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion. Very unhealthy (201 to 300): children should minimise all outdoor activity. Hazardous (above 300): children should avoid all outdoor activity. Note the word strenuous. A relaxed, technique-based swimming lesson is a very different load from a fast set of laps or a race-style drill. That difference is the reason many lessons can be adapted rather than cancelled when readings are moderate. What happens at ActiveSG pools Many children’s lessons in Singapore take place in ActiveSG pools, so closures set by Sport Singapore affect many families at once. In October 2026, CNA reported that outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at all ActiveSG sport centres were temporarily closed as the haze worsened. Facilities then resumed operations on 17 October , according to their usual hours. ActiveSG asked visitors to monitor air quality and said children and others in vulnerable groups should take extra care. The reopening did not mean the air was fully clear. Malay Mail reported that readings remained in the unhealthy range on that day, and that water sports were still suspended. Three practical points follow: Closure decisions are made by the facility operator, so a pool can be open while your child’s own assessment says stay home. Check the ActiveSG facilities closure page or the swimming complex’s own updates before heading out. Different locations can have different readings, so what applies in Bishan may not match another part of the island. Is swimming in haze actually harmful? The honest answer is that it depends on the numbers. Swimming is a low-impact exercise, and health authorities do not suggest staying out of the water altogether unless the air is clearly hazardous. The risk grows with three things: the haze level, the length of time outdoors, and how hard the child is working. Children need more caution than adults for two reasons. They are classed as a vulnerable group in the official guidance. And they often cannot describe how they feel, so a tickly throat may go unmentioned until after the lesson. Parents of children with asthma or other breathing conditions should speak to their child’s doctor before haze season, and agree on what to do when readings rise. We can then plan around the doctor’s advice, but we do not give medical advice ourselves. Do not forget water and the pool deck HealthHub notes that haze often comes with dry, hot weather, which raises the risk of dehydration, and that swimming can hide the signs of thirst. It also cautions that pool decks can be slippery or have poorer visibility in dense haze. Send your child with a water bottle, and remind them to walk, not run, on the deck. Masks are not the answer for children The Ministry of Health says there are no international certification standards for masks made for children , and that prolonged mask use can cause breathing difficulty for children and for people with heart or lung conditions. Masks also cannot be worn in the water. If the air is bad enough that you are thinking about a mask, it is better to skip the outdoor trip. Indoor does not mean immune If a lesson moves indoors, the air is generally better, but not perfect. The Ministry of Health points out that smoke can enter buildings through fresh air intakes or gaps. Good ventilation and, where possible, air purifiers help, particularly for children with asthma. Our haze policy at Oyougu Aquatics We set our policy around the readings parents can check themselves, so that you are never guessing. The full version is on our haze updates page . In summary: Status Reading What happens Normal 0 to 99 PM2.5, or normal PSI Lessons go ahead as usual Elevated 100 to 150 PM2.5, or moderate PSI Lessons continue with less strenuous activities, focused on stroke correction and technique rather than endurance or distance Unhealthy 151 or more 1-hour PM2.5, or 24-hour PSI above 200 Lessons are cancelled or stopped, and no charges are collected Elevated readings When readings are elevated, we keep lessons going but change what the children do. The focus moves to technique: kicking position, arm movement, breathing rhythm. Endurance sets and long-distance swimming are set aside. Because the class is capped at six children per coach, we can also watch each child more closely for signs of discomfort. If your child feels unwell, or you simply prefer to keep them at home while the pool is open, we offer a make-up lesson. You do not need to justify the decision. Please compare our bands with the national guide above. The government guide suggests children avoid strenuous activity from PM2.5 56 and above. If your child is sensitive, or has a breathing condition, you may wish to keep them home earlier than our policy requires. That is exactly what the make-up lesson is for. Unhealthy readings At this level, lessons are cancelled or stopped. Our decisions are based on readings taken at 7:00 AM for morning classes and 2:00 PM for afternoon classes . No charges are collected, and cancelled lessons are automatically prorated or credited. You do not need to chase us for it. Details of how the credit is applied are on the haze updates page . Your quick check before each lesson Look at the 1-hour PM2.5 reading on the NEA haze site or in myENV. Check the 24-hour PSI if you are planning the next day. Look at the pool’s closure status on the ActiveSG page. Ask your child how their throat, eyes and chest feel. Pack a water bottle, and message us if you want to switch to a make-up lesson. Our perspective: calm decisions, one reading at a time Haze worries parents, and it should. A child’s safety in and around water is the reason we teach, so we would never ask a family to choose between a missed lesson and a missed fee. Our classes are developed in-house and taught by our own full-time coaches, who are NROC and SwimSafer certified. Not outsourcing means that when conditions change, the person making decisions about your child’s class is someone who knows your child. We also believe skills are built one foundational step at a time, and a week of lighter, technique-based lessons is not a lost week. A child who learns to breathe out steadily or hold a better body position during a modified lesson is still moving forward. What we will not do is push endurance when the air does not support it. Above all, we trust parents. You know whether your child has a sensitive chest, a cough that lingers, or a bad night behind them. If your instinct says stay home, we will support it with a make-up lesson at elevated readings. — Oyougu Aquatics Keeping progress going when haze interrupts lessons A few missed or modified sessions will not undo your child’s progress, especially if you keep a few habits at home: Practise breathing out slowly: blowing bubbles in a basin or the bath helps build comfort with water on the face. Talk through the skills: ask your child to explain what their coach showed them last, such as streamlined kicking or arm timing. Plan make-ups early: book them in the days after the haze clears, so there is no long gap. Know the stages: our guide to the six SwimSafer 2.0 stages shows what your child is working towards. If your child is new to swimming, our guide to getting ready for a first swimming lesson is a useful read before you start, haze or no haze. Lessons that suit your family We teach children and toddlers at ActiveSG pools including Bishan, Delta, Jalan Besar and Teck Ghee (Ang Mo Kio). Classes follow the national SwimSafer 2.0 curriculum, with no more than six children per coach. Group lessons cost S$130 per month, with no registration fees or deposits. A one-off trial lesson costs S$32.50, so your child can try a class and meet the coach first. You can see more on our fees page , read about children’s swimming lessons or toddler swimming lessons , or book a trial lesson . If you live near Bishan or Ang Mo Kio, our pages for Bishan Swimming Complex and Teck Ghee Swimming Complex show what is on offer. FAQ Can my child swim when the PSI is in the unhealthy range? The official 24-hour PSI guidance for 101 to 200 is that children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion . A short, gentle, technique-focused session is a different matter from a hard swim, but it is still best to check the hourly PM2.5 reading and your child’s health first. If they have asthma or breathing problems, ask their doctor. Will I be charged if a lesson is cancelled for haze? Not with us. When readings reach our unhealthy level, lessons are cancelled, no charges are collected, and the cancelled lessons are automatically prorated or credited. See our haze updates page for the current policy. Should my child wear a mask to swim lessons? We do not recommend it. The Ministry of Health notes that no international certification standards exist for children’s masks, and that prolonged use can cause breathing difficulty. Masks cannot be worn in the water, so the safer choice on a very hazy day is to skip the lesson. Which reading should I check before a lesson? Use the 1-hour PM2.5 reading for a decision on the day, as the haze.gov.sg guide advises for immediate activities. Use the 24-hour PSI to plan the next day. Then check the pool’s closure status on the ActiveSG page. How do I know if my pool has closed? Check the ActiveSG facilities closure page before you leave, as closures can be announced at short notice. If your child attends one of our classes, we also base our own decisions on the 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM readings. Sources Managing Haze, National Environment Agency Haze, Ministry of Health How to plan your outdoor activities during haze, haze.gov.sg Facilities Closure, ActiveSG Haze prompts closure of all outdoor and non-air-conditioned ActiveSG facilities, CNA Singapore reopens ActiveSG sports facilities as haze eases, Malay Mail How to Protect Yourself Against the Haze, HealthHub Recommended Swimming Milestones by Age: Singapore Parents’ Readiness Checks Discovering the Ideal Age for Swimming Classes in Singapore: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents Haze Updates & Swimming Class Policy The Parent’s Role: Supporting and Encouraging Your Child’s Swimming Lessons in Singapore