Because the Tuolumne County geography may entrap smoke in certain valleys and basins, the following visibility chart can be used to determine the air quality where you are. Visibility provides an excellent measure of air quality.
First identify on a map certain landmarks on the horizon. Then check to see at what distance the landmarks can no longer be seen. The distance of this landmark is the “visibility in miles.”
Air Quality Categories
The following guidelines can help to prevent breathing problems during times when air quality is poor due to wildfires:
1) Individuals with long term health conditions like asthma, lung or heart disease should make sure that they have a supply of medications on hand and are following their caregiver’s instructions.
2) Elderly and very young children should limit their outdoor activities when local air quality is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” (visibility less than 5 miles).
3) Signs that the smoke may be bothering you include coughing, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, stinging eyes or runny nose. Sometimes symptoms may even include chest pain or headaches. Consult your caregiver for worsening symptoms.
4) If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.
5) Consider a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce breathing problems. Room air cleaners, which utilize a HEPA filter, may reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air.
6) Do not add to indoor pollution. Do not smoke because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
Source: Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control and Health Department