Sonoma County issues health advisory due to poor air quality caused by current wildfires

On June 18th, the Sonoma County Health Officer issued the following health advisory:

Sonoma County residents are urged to limit outdoor activities in parts of the county with poor air quality caused by wildfire events both in and outside of Sonoma County. People may experience adverse health effects from the smoke over Sonoma County and across the region. Members of sensitive groups may experience effects that are more serious. Older adults, pregnant individuals, children and people with heart disease or respiratory illness should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion. Take more breaks during outdoor activities.

Keep yourself and others safe:

• Check on friends, family and neighbors. Older adults, pregnant individuals, children and people with heart disease or respiratory illness are susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take precautions to avoid exposure.
• Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing cough, a dry scratchy throat, runny nose, trouble breathing and irritated
• Stay hydrated by drinking water during heavy smoke events.
• High temperatures can worsen effects of high Air Quality Index (AQI) events.
• Avoid adding additional air pollution by curtailing activities such as wood burning, lawn mowing, leaf blowing, driving, barbecuing, smoking or other dust-producing activities. Avoid using hairspray and painting indoors. If possible, use a stove fan when cooking.
• Avoid poor air quality
• Shelter in Staying indoors where the air quality is better, with windows and doors closed, is the best way to protect your health. During high heat and heavy smoke events, keep indoor air cool.
• Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to recirculate to keep outside air from moving inside.
• Run your home or car air conditioner on recycle or Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

Check these air quality monitoring (AQI) resources to learn what the air quality is in the parts of the county in which you live and work:

Purple Air: https://map.purpleair.com
NSCAPCD: https://nosocoair.org/
BAAQMD: https://www.baaqmd.gov/
EPA: https://www.airnow.gov/
CAL/OSHA provides and regulates guidelines to protect workers from wildfire smoke. For more information, visit: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/Protection-from-Wildfire-Sm oke/Wildfire-smoke-emergency-standard.html.

When checking the AQI, please note that federal certified monitors at EPA’s AirNow Fires site are most accurate but have an update lag of two to three hours.

Note that Sonoma County is a large county and the air quality will fluctuate in different parts of it due to a number of factors. It’s important to keep track of the air quality in your region and to take steps if it diminishes.