Day 2: Wildfires & Smoke - Air Quality Awareness Week 2019
Does the lake above look familiar?
It’s Lake Tahoe enveloped in a plume of smoke from a nearby wildfire. When smoke blocks out the deep blue of the Sierra Nevada sky, Tahoe’s famed emerald waters are left looking dull and grey. Pretty bad, huh?
It seems like Nevada experiences more and more smoke from wildfires every year. Whether you live near Tahoe, in Las Vegas, along the I-80 corridor, or elsewhere in Nevada, you’ve probably experienced poor air quality from wildfires. Keep reading to learn what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from wildfire smoke.
What is wildfire smoke?
Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and small particles from burning trees and plants. The AQI can show the presence of wildfire smoke using measurements of particle pollution and ozone.
How does wildfire smoke affect my health?
It can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and make chronic heart and lung disease worse.
Who is affected by wildfire smoke?
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and young children are most affected. But when it’s bad, everyone is affected.
What can I do to protect myself when the air quality in my community is unhealthy?
- Shorten outdoor activities
- Take breaks
- Check the EPA’s website for more tips
Learn more:
- Wildfire smoke and your health: Do you need to worry?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Wildfire Smoke
- Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
- Protect Your Pets from wildfire smoke
- Fires and your health
- What about a mask?