Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Summer is in full swing with wildfires across the state.
Lower air quality from the fires can have impacts to your health. This is true even if it does not look or feel like the air is filled with smoke.
Following are some simple steps to help protect yourself and your family.
Communication and support services
• Stay informed: You can track current and forecasted air quality conditions on the following websites: the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Quality Monitoring webpage, AirNow.gov and the AirNow Mobile App.
• Check in on people in your life. Share this information with neighbors, friends and family members who may be affected.
Maintaining health
resources
• Limit time and activity outdoors. Avoid heavy outdoor activity, such as mowing the lawn or going for a run when smoke is present.
• Wear a well-fitting respirator. If you have to be outdoors, wear an N95 or KN95 mask. Bandannas, cloth masks and surgical masks do not provide enough protection from wildfire smoke.
• Reduce smoke from coming indoors. Keep windows and doors closed. Seal gaps around doors and windows if possible. If you have a central air conditioning system or room unit, set it to circulate indoor air rather than drawing in outside air.
• Limit indoor pollution sources. Avoid doing things that add particles to indoor air, including burning candles; using aerosol sprays (e.g. hairspray); or using a fireplace, wood-burning stove or gas/propane appliances.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms. Contact your health care provider if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, a cough that won’t stop or other symptoms that won’t go away.
Independence and safety resources
• Use an air cleaner. Run a HEPA air cleaner in the room you spend the most time in. If you do not have one, a do-it-yourself air cleaner is an effective, low-cost option.
• Create a cleaner air room. Choose a comfortable room in your home with no fireplace and as few windows and doors as possible.
• Find a cleaner air space. Find temporary relief in another location if you can’t keep your home smoke-free, cool or if there’s a power outage.
• Consider staying with friends or family outside of the affected area.
• Find relief in large, public buildings with good air filtration and air conditioning, such as libraries, recreation centers or shopping malls.
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