Clean Air Partners is reminding residents of Baltimore and DC of simple steps they can take to protect air quality. Today (June 8) air quality in the Baltimore/ Washington DC region is Code Purple, which means that air pollution concentrations in parts of the Baltimore/ DC region will be VERY unhealthy for most people.
Side Effects of Poor Air Quality
Everyone can experience more serious side effects and should avoid outdoor activities, but susceptible groups including older adults, children, people with heart ailments or lung disease, and people with diabetes, because they are more likely to have underlying cardiovascular disease.
Smoke in the sky from severe wildfires in Quebec has caused fine particles to reach unhealthy levels in our air. These particles can penetrate deep into your lungs causing a range of health problems, from burning eyes and a runny nose to aggravated chronic heart and lung diseases.
Simple Steps to Protect Air Quality
Clean Air Partners is providing these simple steps residents can take to protect air quality and public health in the greater DC/ Baltimore area:
- Consolidate car trips when you can and work from home as many days as possible.
- Set your thermostat a few degrees higher and use a fan to keep cool and reduce energy consumption.
- Postpone mowing and trimming on poor air quality days or use electric garden equipment.
- Reduce vehicle emissions by checking your tires’ air pressure regularly and using your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil—check for the “energy-conserving” label. Oil that contains friction-reducing additives and properly inflated tires both reduce emissions. Your tires will last longer and improve gas mileage, saving you money.
- If you’re traveling this summer, pack light. An extra 100 pounds can reduce your fuel economy by up to 2%.
- Fill up your gas tank in the cooler temperatures of the early morning or during the evening to prevent fuel evaporation and reduce fumes that are harmful to breathe. Avoid topping off your tank and always tighten your gas cap to prevent pollutants from evaporating into the air.
- Not idling your vehicle will conserve fuel and help reduce emission pollutants.
- Don’t drive aggressively—accelerating quickly and braking hard increases emissions and can lower your gas mileage by up to 33%.
Limit Smoke Exposure
Some ways that people can limit their exposure to wildfire smoke are to:
- Reduce the amount of time they spend outdoors when air quality is poor. For example, if you have plans outdoors, plan to shift your activity to another time or to a place where the air quality is better.
- Keep smoke outside.
o This includes keeping the windows and doors closed and turning on your HVAC system to filter the air or using a portable air cleaner.
o If you have a central air conditioning system, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate mode or close the outdoor intake damper.
o You can also choose a room you can close off from outside air. Set up a portable air cleaner or a filter to keep the air in this room clean even when it’s smoky in the rest of the building and outdoors. If you use a do-it-yourself box fan filtration unit, never leave it unattended.
- And if you must go outside, wear an N95 respirator. This is especially important for people who work outdoors or who can’t reduce the amount of time they spend outside.
o A respirator is a mask that fits tightly to your face to filter out smoke before you breathe it in. You must wear the right respirator and wear it correctly. Follow the user instructions for the respirator or mask. These instructions may show how to make sure it fits properly.
o If you have heart or lung disease, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to wear a respirator.
o NIOSH has not approved respirators for children but children ages 2 years and older can wear respirators and masks. NIOSH Approved respirators do not come in suitable sizes for very young children.
- Choose a comfortable respirator or mask that your child can wear properly. If a respirator or mask fits poorly or is uncomfortable, a child might take it off or wear it incorrectly (for example, pulling it down from their nose). This reduces the intended benefits.
- Choose a size that fits over the child’s nose and under the chin but does not impair vision.
- NIOSH Approved respirators and international respirators may be available in smaller sizes that fit children. However, manufacturers typically design them to be used by adults in workplaces. They may not have been tested for broad use in children.
- Avoid using candles, gas, propane, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, or aerosol sprays and don’t fry or broil meat, smoke tobacco products, or vacuum.
Pay Attention to Health Symptoms
Another thing people can do is pay attention to their health symptoms. Wildfire smoke can affect anyone. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung disease (such as asthma or COPD) should be especially careful. It’s important for people with heart or lung disease to have a supply of medicine ready in case they do begin to feel symptoms.
And if wildfires do occur nearby, be prepared. Keep track of the locations of the fires, know your community’s evacuation routes, and follow the evacuation guidance of your local authorities. We have more information about what to do before, during, and after a wildfire at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/beforefire.html.
Remember that pets and other animals can be affected by wildfire smoke too. As you’re planning to reduce your own exposure to wildfire smoke, don’t forget about pets and other animals.
Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/duringfire.html
