Experts urge Michiganders to stay indoors amid unhealthy air quality Thursday, July 16, but if you must go outside, key practices can limit your exposure to potentially hazardous wildfire smoke.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued air quality alerts across Michigan for July 16, and Friday, July 17, because of elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke. Breathing in the hazardous air can lead to harmful health impacts, especially for children, the elderly and other at-risk groups, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services warns.
Spending a short amount of time outdoors, when necessary, avoiding strenuous activities and wearing a tight-fitting face mask (preferably N95) can reduce the risk of significant negative health impacts from wildfire smoke exposure, according to MDHHS and Michigan EGLE.
“Smoke inhalation shouldn’t be treated lightly. You might feel like it’s too much of a fuss to have a doctor look you over, but the effects of breathing in smoke can be deadly. A health care provider can check for any concerns, treat you if needed and get you home with peace of mind,” the Cleveland Clinic warned.
The smoke — from active wildfires in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota — may linger into Saturday, July 18, according to the National Weather Service.
Here’s what to know about staying safe outdoors amid poor air quality.
How bad is Michigan’s air quality today?
The Air Quality Index includes ratings from zero (the best) to 301 and above, which is considered hazardous for everyone.
Readings on Thursday, July 16, in Michigan were near 1,000 in the morning — well above the hazardous level.
Readings Thursday afternoon in Detroit were in the 200 to 500 range. In the Lansing area, the peak was 406 while in West Michigan, readings were in the 300 to 500 range. Across the Upper Peninsula, readings were in the 500 to 1,100 range.
How can you stay safe outdoors amid poor air quality?
While experts recommend limiting time outdoors amid hazardous air quality, if you must go outside, following certain guidelines can help protect your health:
What is an N95 mask?
N95 respirators are typically used as health care personal protective equipment, filtering out over 95% of particles as small as 0.3 microns when properly fitted to the user’s face, according to SmartAir.
The EPA recommends choosing a “particulate respirator” that has been tested and approved by the NationalInstitute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It will have the words “NIOSH” and either “N95” or “P100” printed on it.
What are the symptoms of smoke inhalation?
Smoke inhalation from wildfires, house fires and vehicle fires can damage your airways and lungs, the Cleveland Clinic says, because chemicals in the smoke can keep your body from getting enough oxygen. Even smaller amounts of smoke, like from wildfires that are far away, can irritate your airways and eyes.
You may be suffering the effects of smoke inhalation if you experience these symptoms:
Get to fresh air as quickly as possible and seek medical attention, the Cleveland Clinic says.
People with asthma, chornic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, heart disease, who are pregnant, and children are at higher risk of smoke effects.
See Michigan’s current air quality
The map below displays the current air quality at monitoring sites in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Air monitoring sites are color-coded based on the pollutant (ozone or particulate matter) with the highest value. Particles that are less than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter are called PM10 and PM2.5, respectively.
An AQI of 50 or below means the current air quality is good. The shaded areas of the map show the approximate boundaries where air quality is available and listed as anything other than good. The information is updated hourly.
Lansing State Journal reporter Sarah Moore contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke if you’re outdoors
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi and Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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By Jenna Prestininzi and Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
