Smoke from more than 850 active wildfires in Canada is drifting south, triggering air quality alerts from the Midwest to the Northeast. Forecasters warn conditions could worsen, posing serious health risks to millions.
The fine particles in wildfire smoke can irritate lungs, aggravate heart and respiratory conditions, and are especially dangerous for children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and pets.
Understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI) The AQI measures outdoor air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500. Check your local AQI on the AirNow website.
- 0-50 (Green): Good air quality.
- 51-100 (Yellow): Acceptable, but risk for sensitive individuals.
- 101-150 (Orange): Health effects for sensitive groups.
- 151-200 (Red): Health effects for the general public.
- 201-300 (Purple): Increased risk for everyone.
- 301+ (Maroon): Health emergency conditions.
General Safety Tips
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Avoid indoor activities that create fine particles (e.g., smoking, using wood-burning stoves, frying food, burning candles).
- Use an N95 respirator mask for protection. Cloth or paper masks are not effective.
- Consider a portable air cleaner or high-efficiency HVAC filter.
Protecting Children Children's developing lungs make them highly vulnerable. Keep them indoors during poor air quality. N95 masks are not designed to fit children properly. Watch for symptoms like chest tightness, trouble breathing, or coughing and seek immediate medical care if they appear.
Protecting Seniors Age can reduce lung resilience. Seniors with conditions like asthma, heart disease, or COPD are at higher risk. Inhaled smoke particles can trigger inflammation and serious complications.
Protecting Pets Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Birds are especially susceptible and should remain inside until conditions improve. Watch for symptoms such as coughing, red eyes, nasal discharge, labored breathing, or lethargy. Consult a veterinarian immediately if symptoms occur.