10/18/2023 0 Comments Cool gas mask in app close* In the event of a Flex Alert – a call for consumers to voluntarily conserve electricity when there is a predicted shortage of energy supply, often during heat waves which coincide with wildfire season – follow all guidance from California ISO. Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution, such as burning candles, using gas stoves and vacuuming.Do not run swamp coolers or whole house fans.Consider using a CARB-certified air cleaner which can greatly reduce indoor particle levels to further reduce impacts from smoke.Install a high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 rating or higher) with a MERV rating as high as your system can handle, based on manufacturer recommendations.If your system brings fresh air into the home, close the fresh-air intake so that it operates in in recirculation mode to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.If you have a central-ducted air conditioning and heating system, be sure to set the system to “on” to ensure air is being filtered constantly, rather than “auto,” which runs the system intermittently.*.When air quality reaches dangerous levels due to wildfire smoke, the most effective way to reduce exposure and avoid health effects of smoke is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed.Protecting Yourself from Smoke Stay Indoors and Keep Indoor Air Clean The best way to prevent breathing harmful particles in wildfire smoke is to stay indoors. CDC: NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators.Cal/OSHA: Worker Safety and Health in Wildfire Regions.CDPH: Get the Most out of Masking – Different types of masks and when to use them. However, it is important to know that while some KN95 models have been tested by NIOSH, they are not designed or approved in accordance with NIOSH standards.Īlmost all KN95s have ear loops, which provide a less-snug fit than respirators with head straps (such as N95s), so it can be difficult to create the seal needed to adequately filter smoke particles. If you choose to use a KN95 mask, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends using one that has been tested by NIOSH and has a minimum "filtration efficiency" of 95% or higher. KN95 respirators are the most widely available masks that meet an international standard. Some respirator masks are designed and tested to meet international standards, rather than U.S. Choose a size and model that fits your face and has no gaps. If you purchase N95 masks, make sure they are NIOSH-approved. Since wearing a respirator can make it harder to breathe, those with lung or heart conditions should check with their doctor before using one. Those with existing respiratory, lung or heart conditions should limit their exposure by staying indoors. People who must be outdoors for long periods of time, in areas with heavy smoke, or where ash is disturbed, may want to wear a NIOSH-certified N95 respirator mask. Health problems related to wildfire smoke exposure can be as mild as eye and respiratory tract irritation and as serious as worsening of heart and lung disease, including asthma, and even premature death. Smoke can travel hundreds of miles, so you can be impacted even if you’re not near an active fire. Larger, more frequent and intense wildfires are a growing public health problem, contributing to reduced air quality for people living near or downwind of fire. The association between PM2.5 and heart and lung health effects is well documented in scientific literature. They are small enough to get deep into the lungs and the tiniest, ultrafine particles can pass directly into the bloodstream. Particles from smoke can be very small (with diameters of 2.5 micrometers and smaller). Particulate matter (PM) is the main pollutant of concern from wildfire smoke for relatively short-term exposures (hours to weeks). Wildfires produce a range of harmful air pollutants, from cancer-causing substances to tiny particles that can aggravate existing health problems and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
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