What is the Air Quality Index? And how can you use it to stay safe?
The Index ranges between 0 and 500.
🟩 0-50 – Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
🟨 51-100 – Air quality is acceptable for most people but for some, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution, this is a higher risk level
🟧 101-150 – Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
🟥 151-200 – Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
🟪 201-300 – Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
⬛ > 300 – Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.
(from https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/)
If you live in the Southern California area, wildfires may be affecting your air quality right now. As the winds shift, smoke may drift into other areas, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for poor air quality related to wildfire smoke even if you’re outside of fire-impacted areas.
You can look up your air quality index here.
Use the guide above to determine your risk. If you or your loved ones are at a higher risk, consider staying indoors during high AQI days. If you must go outside, grab a mask that offers some protection from wildfire smoke, like a KN95 or KF94. Surgical masks won’t help much in smoky conditions, but they’re better than nothing if that’s what you have available. Masks like N95s will help with smoke and ash particles, but they won’t prevent you from inhaling toxic fumes that may be present in urban wildfire areas. If you’re working on cleanup after a fire, wear a well-fitting N95 or P100 respirator mask. Learn more (archived link) about different mask types and how to ensure a good mask fit.
Wildfire smoke can also impact your indoor air quality. Change the settings on your air conditioner to recirculate indoor air, close outdoor air intakes, keep windows closed, and run an air purifier if you have one. After the wildfires have passed, change your air filters.
Stay safe. Stay Nerdy.
Love,
Those Nerdy Girls &+
Resource:
This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original written on June 7, 2023.
