Wildfire Smoke Safety Tips: Take Action to Clear the Haze

Wildfire smoke can drift hundreds of miles from its source, affecting areas of the country unfamiliar with the air quality issues that result from the smoke. Even smoke from wildfires a thousand miles away can adversely affect the well-being of your employees, attendees, and volunteers.

Learn the symptoms of wildfire smoke-related illness, how you can use the Air Quality Alert color codes to safely plan outdoor events, and five ways to help those inside your facilities breathe easier.

How wildfire smoke makes you sick

Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles, like ash, from burning vegetation and building materials.¹ Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick. Even someone who is healthy can get sick if there is enough smoke in the air.

Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects. Look for symptoms that include:

• Coughing, stinging eyes, and a scratchy throat.
• Runny nose or irritated sinuses.
• Wheezing, shortness of breath, and even an asthma attack.
• Chest pain.
• Headaches and fatigue.
• Fast heartbeat.

Some groups are more susceptible to suffering health effects of wildfire smoke. Older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they breathe in wildfire smoke.

Be mindful of Air Quality Alerts issued by your state, especially when organizing an outdoor event. Consider the effects of an Air Quality Alert on your event the same as you would for a severe weather alert.

Check current air quality for your area at U.S. Air Quality Index.

Air Quality Alerts: Know Your Colors The Air Quality Index (AQI) used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) color-codes six alert levels, each related to a different level of health concern:²

• Green—little to no risk.
• Yellow—air is acceptable, but a risk to people unusually sensitive to air pollution.
• Orange—sensitive groups may experience health effects.
• Red—general public may experience health effects; sensitive groups may experience serious health effects.
• Purple—the risk of increased health effects is increased for everyone.
• Maroon—a health warning of emergency conditions.

Breathe easier: 5 Steps to improving indoor air quality

Simply staying indoors during an Air Quality Alert day can help protect lungs, but there is more you can do. The following steps help improve indoor air quality by filtering out particulates from wildfire smoke and ash:

1. Install higher-rated air filters in HVAC systems. A MERV rating—Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values—is relative to the size of particles it captures. The higher the rating, the better the filter is at trapping specific particles between 0.3 and 10 microns.³ To get more protection from particulates, you will need a filter rating of 10-13 or higher.
   
   Find out the highest-rated MERV filter approved for your system. Some systems may only be able to accommodate a MERV of 7 or 8. Be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions on cleaning and filter replacement. A dirty filter can damage your HVAC system.
   
   A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter must meet minimum standards to remove 99.97% of airborne particulates at 0.3 microns. Using a HEPA filter on most HVAC systems is not recommended, as the filter’s density increases strain on the system and the risk of system malfunction. However, each HVAC system is unique, and some systems may be installed to specifically take advantage of a HEPA filter. Be sure to work with a locally licensed HVAC service technician and HVAC service provider. This will help prevent inadvertent harm to your system.
2. Check your seals. Well-maintained weather seals around windows and doors help keep out the outdoor air and wildfire smoke. Bonus: this will help with cold and hot temperatures, too. Use weatherstripping or caulking to seal gaps and cracks.
3. Don’t add to indoor pollution. On Air Quality Alert days, avoid vacuuming, burning candles, or frying foods—these add to airborne particulates. Outdoors, avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers, trimmers, and blowers.
4. Postpone events on Air Quality Alert days. When the air quality leans into the unhealthy to hazardous areas, it’s bad for children and those with respiratory issues. But it’s unhealthy for healthy adults, too.
5. Stock N95/P100 masks marked “NIOSH.” These masks clean particles out of the air as you breathe.⁴ Download Wildfire Smoke Factsheet to learn how to use this type of mask correctly. The factsheet also details who should not use an N95 mask and when to stop using one.

With the escalating frequency and size of wildfires, consider creating a plan that prioritizes safety measures for both wildfires and wildfire smoke. Even if the fire is hundreds of miles away, breathing drifted smoke poses real health hazards. Take proactive measures to improve indoor air quality and pay attention to fluctuations in your area’s Air Quality Index. By taking a few extra steps, you can help better care for the people who share your mission.

Additional Resource

• Wildfire Smoke Factsheet

Sources Cited
1 “Wildfire Smoke.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 27 December 2013. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/smoke.html
2 “Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics.” AirNow.gov. Accessed 19 June 2023. https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics
3 “What is a HEPA filter?” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 13 March 2023. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter
4 “Wildfire Smoke Factsheet—Protect Your Lungs from Wildfire Smoke or Ash.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed 19 June 2023. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/documents/respiratory_protection-no-niosh-5081.pdf

Posted July 2023

The information provided in this article is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.

 

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