Sonoma County Aviso De Salud Sobre La Calidad Del Aire - Actualizado

Press release from the Sonoma County Government:

August 22, 2020

En español

Santa Rosa, CA - August 22, 2020 at 9:00 AM - Health officials urge Sonoma County residents to limit outdoor activity due to poor air quality caused by wildfires burning in the Sonoma County and throughout Northern California. People can experience adverse health effects from smoke and ash in the environment located over Sonoma County and throughout the region. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious effects. These groups include children, pregnant people, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart disease. This group is at greater risk of suffering harmful impacts.

People with health conditions should:

• Contact your healthcare provider if you have concerns regarding your health condition.
• Those with heart or lung disease, older adults, pregnant people, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion, and should reschedule outdoor activities or move them to another location.
• Elevated airborne particles can trigger wheezing in those suffering from asthma, emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or other respiratory conditions.
• Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan.
• Keep up to two weeks of extra medications on hand. Prepare with plans to treat asthma or diabetes when there is smoke.
• People should contact their doctor if they have a cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms believed to be caused by smoke. People should consult their doctor if they have any concerns, for personalized recommendations.
• Consider leaving the affected area if there is a prolonged smoke event.

Limit time spent outdoors if the smell of smoke is present. Protect your health by following these habits:

• Shelter in place. Stay indoors with windows and doors closed, as air quality is better and is the best way to protect your health. During high heat and heavy smoke events, keep the air cool indoors.
• Plan to go to a cleaner air place if you cannot seal your home or if heavy smoke occurs during hot weather events and you cannot stay in your home. Heat takes precedence over smoke.
• Set the car's air conditioning units and ventilation systems to recirculate to prevent outside air from moving inside.
• Turn your home or car air conditioner on the recycle or recirculate cycle. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent extra smoke from entering.
• Smoke can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract, causing a cough, dry or irritated throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, and nasal irritation. Stay hydrated by drinking water during heavy smoke events.
• Due to severe air quality conditions, residents should avoid adding additional air pollution by restricting wood burning, lawn mowing, leaf blowing, driving, and rotisserie use.

COVID-19 is circulating in our community, and the best way to protect yourself from the virus and poor air quality is to stay indoors. Face covers should be worn if they are around other people outside your home, both indoors and outdoors.

• If you are in an affected area and need to leave your home, be sure to practice physical distancing, cover your cough, wash your hands frequently, and always wear face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Wear an N-95 mask if possible. Masks with valves or vents, however, are not recommended as they do not prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
• Bandanas and typical surgical masks do not protect against wildfire smoke particles, but are recommended for protection against COVID-19.
• Putting on and taking off a mask can cause fine particles and virus particles to accumulate on the mask, which the user will breathe in when put on the face again.

Air quality monitoring (AQI) resources:

• NSCAPCD: http://aqnow.sonoma-county.org/AirVision/
• BAAQMD: http://www.baaqmd.gov/
• EPA: https://www.airnow.gov/
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/features/wildfires/index.html

When reviewing the AQI (Air Quality Index), keep in mind that the federally certified monitors on the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) airNow Fires site are more accurate (but have a 2-3 hour update delay ).

This press release was produced by the Sonoma County Government . The views expressed here are the author's own.