Protect Your Health by Preparing for Wildfire Smoke

by Support Airthereal | August 25, 2020

[updated July 2022]

Wildfires Across the USA

Wildfires and smoke have been a persistent and consistent issue for West Coast Americans and have only increased in recent years.

These wildfires have caused extremely poor air quality in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Oregon, which increases respiratory health risks. Residents near wildfires can visit "airnow" to get the latest air quality updates.

Wildfire smoke threatens air quality by irritating chemical gases and ultra-fine particles. Ultra-fine particles are the main pollutant causing concern with wildfire smoke. These particles are much smaller (about one-sixtieth the diameter of a human hair) and stay in the air longer, so they’re much easier to inhale into the deepest parts of the lungs and are more harmful to overall health than large particles.

How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Our Health？

girl in mask wildfire mountain

Poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke can affect yours and your family’s in many ways, including burning eyes, respiratory tract irritation (coughing, wheezing, runny nose), worsening asthma and, in severe cases, even causing lung inflammation, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. The elderly, pregnant women, children and people with weakened immune systems inhaling wildfire smoke increase the possibility of illness and experience greater risk. Heavy smokers and people who aren’t very active should also be wary of breathing in wildfire smoke.

Ways to Prepare for a Wildfire

Having a family evacuation plan is absolutely essential. Keep an emergency supply kit (N95 masks, fire extinguisher, etc) in your car in case of an emergency evacuation. You can check out CalFire’s Evacuation Plan Checklist.

Pay attention to local weather forecast notifications. You can view information about local air quality through AIR NOW forecasts. Certain weather apps (like the Weather Channel) are synced to your location and in tune with all global weather updates to give you up-to-date, real-time information, so you can stay prepared no matter what.

Limit exposure. When the air quality starts to deteriorate, it’s best to take measures to limit your exposure to smoke. If you must go out, try to reduce the time, avoid the peak pollution period, and wear qualified N95 masks; don't forget to wash your face and bare skin when you’re back indoors.

Stay inside as much as possible. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and other people with low immunity should try to stay indoors and keep your indoor air as clean as possible.

Seal and close. Keep your windows sealed shut and doors closed to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If possible, you can use a HEPA air purifier, which is beneficial in reducing the concentration of harmful indoor pollutants.

air purifier to improve indoor air quality against wildfire smoke

Airthereal's purifiers are all equipped with HEPA air filters, which can remove 99.97% of fine particles, providing protection for various spaces, large and small. Our filters contain a preliminary filter, a HEPA filter, as well as an activated carbon filter, which removes the micrometer particles which float in the air, wildfire smoke, etc.

Click here to know which model fits you.