As communities like El Monte, South El Monte, Baldwin Park, Rosemead, and Irwindale frequently find themselves downwind of California’s wildfires, residents are becoming increasingly aware of the crucial need to protect their respiratory health from the pervasive threat of smoke inhalation. Each year, as the scent of burning timber fills the air, the need for vigilance and preparedness becomes more apparent.

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials. This smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and its fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, impairing function and exacerbating conditions like asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases.

Here are practical steps to minimize your exposure to smoke and safeguard your health:

Keep Indoor Air Clean: When smoke levels are high, keep windows and doors closed. Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to capture particulate matter. Air conditioners should be set to recirculate to prevent outdoor smoke from coming in. Avoid activities that increase indoor pollutants, like smoking, using fireplaces, and burning candles.

Create a Clean Air Sanctuary: Dedicate a room in your home as a pollution-free area. Equip this room with a portable air purifier and keep the doors and windows closed to maintain a clean breathing space, particularly helpful if someone in the household suffers from respiratory conditions.

Use Masks Correctly: When you need to go outside, use a mask specifically designed to filter out fine particulate matter, such as an N95 respirator. These masks, if worn properly, can offer significant protection against particulate matter.

Monitor Air Quality Index (AQI): Regularly check the AQI in your area through websites like AirNow.gov. The AQI measures air pollution levels on a scale from 0 to 500; numbers above 150 are considered unhealthy for the general population.

Stay Active Indoors: Maintain physical activity by finding ways to exercise indoors. Activities such as yoga, pilates, and indoor aerobic exercises can be excellent substitutes when outdoor air quality is poor. Local gyms and community centers often offer indoor classes that can be joined during such times.

Be Prepared: Always have a plan in place for days when air quality is particularly bad. This includes having access to necessary medications, preparing emergency kits with masks and other essentials, and planning for possible relocations to cleaner air shelters if necessary.

Acknowledging the challenges that come with recurring wildfires, it becomes crucial to adopt these measures not just for immediate relief but as part of a longer-term approach to living safely under the shadow of these seasonal threats. Protecting your respiratory health isn’t just a response to a temporary problem, but a continuous commitment to wellbeing in an environment that demands adaptability and resilience. Stay safe and breathe easy.