air quality and smoke
Preparing for wildfire smoke
Smoke from wildfires has become a recurring seasonal air quality hazard in the western United States. For the last several years, Whitman County has experienced wildfire smoke that has led to poor air quality, including days of "unhealthy for sensitive groups" or "unhealthy for everyone" rankings. Based on current drought and forest conditions, Washington State Department of Natural Resources believes we may see a record number of wildfires in 2019.
Annual preparations for wildfire smoke impacts can help Whitman County residents mitigate the effects of wildfire smoke on their health and daily routines. These steps include: talking to health care providers about health risks, taking steps to keep indoor air cleaner, sharing existing cleaner air spaces with neighbors, and limiting outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
Annual preparations for wildfire smoke impacts can help Whitman County residents mitigate the effects of wildfire smoke on their health and daily routines. These steps include: talking to health care providers about health risks, taking steps to keep indoor air cleaner, sharing existing cleaner air spaces with neighbors, and limiting outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
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How to protect yourself from poor air quality & wildfire smoke
- Check local air quality reports and listen to news or health warnings for your community.
- Avoid physical exertion outdoors if smoke is in the air.
- If you have asthma or other lung diseases, make sure you follow your doctor's directions about taking your medication and following your asthma management plan. Call your health care provider if your symptoms worsen.
- Stay indoors and keep the indoor air as clean as possible. Take the following steps when indoors:
- Keep windows and doors closed. Track air quality and open your windows for fresh air when the air quality improves.
- Run an air conditioner, set it to re-circulate and close the fresh air intake. Make sure to change filter regularly.
- Use an air cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce indoor air pollution. A HEPA filter will reduce the number of irritating fine particulates in indoor air. A HEPA filter with charcoal will help remove some of the gases from the smoke. Do not use an air cleaner that produces ozone. For more information visit EPA Indoor Air Filtration Factsheet.
- Don't add to indoor air pollution. Don't use food boilers, candles, incense, fireplace or gas stoves. Don't vacuum unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Don't smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
- Consider leaving the area if the air quality is poor and it's not possible to keep indoor air clean, especially if you or those you are caring for have health problems or are in a sensitive group.
- Protect your pets from poor air quality and smoke:
- Make sure pets are healthy with regular veterinary care so they are better able to cope with extreme conditions.
- Keep pets indoors as much as possible with windows shut.
- Never put birds outside or near open windows when air quality is poor as they are particularly susceptible.
- Avoid all physical exertion or intense exercise.
- Pay special attention to older, ill animals or those with flat faces (pugs, Persian cats, etc;) who are less able to cope with extreme conditions.
- For outdoor pets when air quality is poor:
- Make sure they have plenty of clean fresh water.
- Offer low dust or dust free feed.
- Use misters or sprinklers to keep dust down in bedding and feeding areas.
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