It’s Smoke Ready Week! We know it came a little late for our friends on the East Coast, but the smoke they’re experiencing is an important reminder of why it’s good to have a plan for when our air quality becomes a problem. Call a family meeting! It’s time to make a smoke ready plan for your household.

There are a few places you can go to stay up to date on wildfire smoke in our area. Check out SRHD’s Wildfire Smoke page for an overview of the topic. To dig a little deeper and find out the current air quality, visit Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency’s site. If you are new to checking the air quality index (AQI), here is a great AQI guide (available in multiple languages) that explains how it’s measured in our area and how you can take care of yourself once you know what the current air quality is. If you’re still wanting more information, the Washington Smoke Blog shows current monitoring, forecasting, and weather alerts for Washington. Save these pages to your favorites or print out helpful materials so you’ll have them available.

Each household member will have a different level of risk. People with lung or heart disease, older adults, children, and people who are pregnant are at greater risk from wildfire smoke. Check in with a medical provider to plan for wildfire smoke, how people at risk can protect themselves, and when they should seek help. If pets are part of your family, learn how to keep them safe too.

Figure out the best way to keep the smoke outside. Close windows and doors, use a HEPA air filter or a DIY box fan filter, and make sure you are using high quality filters and recirculating air if you have a central air conditioning system. If you have to go outside, try to use a correctly fitted respirator mask. If none of these options are enough, take a family trip to a local library, mall, community center or public place with an air filtration system.

We certainly hope you won’t have to worry about wildfire smoke any time soon, but having a plan for your family will alleviate some of the stress when it is a concern. Family meeting adjourned!