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Air Quality Safety

Know the AQI. Reduce your exposure.

Wildfire smoke can affect air quality hundreds of miles from where a fire is burning. Because smoke levels can change quickly throughout the day, monitoring local conditions is an important step in protecting yourself, your staff, and your residents.

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, indicates how clean or polluted the outdoor air is and when additional precautions may be necessary.

When Air Quality Declines

  • Keep windows and doors closed. Run your HVAC system with a clean filter or use a portable air cleaner when available.
  • Limit strenuous outdoor activity or move activities indoors.
  • Set vehicle ventilation systems to recirculate rather than drawing in outside air.
  • If you must spend extended time outdoors in smoky conditions, wear a properly fitted, NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator. Cloth and surgical masks do not provide adequate protection from smoke particles.
  • Keep pets indoors as much as possible and watch them for signs of respiratory distress.
  • Monitor for coughing, wheezing, eye or throat irritation, and shortness of breath. Contact a health professional about new or worsening symptoms.

    • Poor air quality can affect anyone, but children, adults age 65 and older, women who are pregnant, and people with heart or lung diseases (such as asthma or COPD) are at greater risk.

    Air Quality Resources

    Use HARRP’s Air Quality Index infographic as a quick reference for understanding each AQI level and the corresponding precautions.

    Cedar River Terrace

    Statement Regarding Incident at Cedar River Terrace:

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