Air quality in unhealthy range

In the unhealthy range, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

The health district urges residents to take precautions to avoid illness due to wildfire smoke inhalation.

Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.

Poor air quality conditions are a health threat and all residents should limit their exposure to smoke. Those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children, are advised to stay indoors when the air quality is poor.

Air cleaners or filters can help protect you at home. Visit https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home for a detailed guide to air cleaners and air filters in the home.

If you are unable to clean the air at home, consider visiting these locations during their normal hours: The Dalles-Wasco County Public Library, 722 Court St.; Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 West 9th St., The Dalles; and St. Vincent DePaul Shelter, 315 West 3rd St., The Dalles.

If you have to spend time outside when the air quality is hazardous, do not rely on paper or dust masks for protection. N95 masks must be properly fitted and properly worn to offer protection.

Hourly updates on air quality can be found at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s website, https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map.

The site is colorcoded for easy to read information.

People are urged to avoid outdoor exertion during these conditions, including sports practice, work and recreation. Drink plenty of water to keep airways moist and reduce scratchy throat, runny nose and coughing.

Try to avoid driving in smoky areas and set air conditioning to “re-circulate” to avoid bringing smoke into your car.

Stay indoors, close all windows and doors and use a filter in your heating/cooling system that removes very fine particulate matter.

For more information, call the health district at (541) 506-2600 or visit www.ncphd.org or our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthCentralPublicHealth/.