With wildfires burning throughout the Monterey Bay area, our air quality is now ranging from unhealthy to hazardous depending on the area you are in. There are some things you can do to help minimize the impact.
- Make sure your stove vent and any other vent to outside is closed.
- Keep doors and windows closed.
- Put your car AC on recirculated air with windows closed when running errands or if you need to evacuate.
- Wear a fabric mask inside and an N95 outside.
- Avoid activities that create more fine particles inside such as smoking cigarettes, using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces, spraying aerosol products, frying or broiling food, burning candles or incense and vacuuming unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- Change your home's AC filter if you have AC. Change it again in a few days or when the fires are out.
- Tape up cracks around doors and windows with duct tape.
- Get an air purifier if you can afford it.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Keep the lights and electronics off as much as you can to save energy for AC and refrigerator.
- Stay inside and keep your pets inside.
For additional information: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html