During a wildfire, countless toxic and poisonous chemicals and materials will have been burned and released into the atmosphere. As such, these harmful chemicals become part of the fire, smoke and ash which can make their way into your home if you’re located in or close to the damaged area.
If these harmful particles come into contact with your skin or are inhaled, they can prove extremely detrimental to your health. This article will tell you how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. so, without further ado, let’s dive in!
How to Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
Check Local Air Quality Reports
Listen for smoke-related news or health warnings. Check the AirNow fire and smoke map to see if there are any updates regarding the air quality in your community. Also check whether the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) updates are being communicated in your area.
If the air quality is below the healthy level, consider moving away for a few days until the air quality is livable again. Additionally, make sure to tune in to any public health messages being announced on TV or radio and adhere to them strictly.
Keep Indoor Air as Clean as Possible
If safety protocols instruct you to remain indoors at all times, make sure you do so. In addition, shut all doors and windows properly in order to prevent outside smoke from entering your home. Turn on the air conditioner but close off the fresh air intake, instead, have your indoor air cleaned and recirculated. Also make sure to clean the filters thoroughly. This will help keep the smoke out as effectively as possible.
If you don’t have an air conditioning or if your air conditioner is not functional and the weather is too hot to stay indoors with the doors and windows shut, head to a designated shelter outside the impacted region and stay there until the conditions are restored.
Avoid Activities That Increase Indoor Pollution
One of the best ways to keep yourself, your family, and home safe from the devastating wildfire smoke is to keep your home sealed off from the outside in an effort to prevent any smoke from entering into your home.
However, this also means a lack of ventilation and airflow in your home. Knowing this, it is important to keep the indoor air as clean as possible. You can do this by temporarily avoiding activities that would pollute the indoor atmosphere such as burning candles, or using gas stoves.
Need Help?
Knowing how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke is extremely important with the sudden rise in wildfires due to climate change. However, it is worth noting that sometimes even the most surefire protective measures can fail to prevent wildfire smoke from entering your property. In such a case, you should immediately head to a designated shelter located out of the affected region.
What about your home, you ask? Don’t worry, STOP Restoration of Spokane offers the finest home restoration services in town including smoke damage restoration. Our trained and qualified professionals will have your smoke-damaged home restored to its pre-loss condition in a timely and affordable manner so that you don’t have to stay away from the home you love for too long. Call us now on (509) 818-7744 to learn more about our services.
