By Eleonora Frokic, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

It’s that time of year! For Washingtonians May through October are months when the threat of wildfires and poor air quality loom on the horizon. When wildfires strike, do you know how to determine how much you’re at risk? Check your local Air Quality Index (AQI). 

 Air Quality Index is a number between 0 and 500 that provides a quick and easy method for anybody to see how clean the air is in an area. Website like airnow.gov, map.purpleair.com, and WAsmoke.blogspot.com provide local AQI readings. It is especially important to be aware of your local AQI if you’re elderly, pregnant, a child, or have a respiratory condition like asthma, as you may be more sensitive to the impacts of air pollution. 

Lower numbers mean the air quality is great, and they correspond to a green color. As the saying goes, “when the AQI is green, the air is clean!” Higher numbers show up when air quality is poorer. They might appear alongside a yellow color, representing air that is safe for most people but not those who are sensitive to air pollution. Orange represents air that is very unsafe for those who are sensitive to air pollution and red, maroon, and purple mean external air is dangerous for all people to breathe. That’s when it’s time to take action to protect yourself. Unsafe air quality can lead to short-term impacts like coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, watering eyes, headaches, or long-term like respiratory diseases. Moving indoors will help, especially if you’re not adding indoor pollution by vacuuming, smoking, or lighting candles or incense. If you’re looking for a way to increase indoor air quality, set up a box fan/filter for your household. 

To set up a box fan filter, you will need a box fan, a FPR 10 or MERV 13 Filter, and some tape or a bungee cord. Take the box fan out of the box and locate the side that the power cord comes out of. Unwrap the filter and find the air flow arrow. Put the filter on the back of the box fan, so that the air flow arrow points towards the fan. Tape or tie with bungee cords the filter to the fan. Close all windows and doors, so that you’re filtering the air inside your house and not the outdoors. Place the fan somewhere in the room where you won’t trip over the power cord and turn the fan on. 

According to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, it may be able to reduce 90% of the air pollution in a room in just 15 minutes. That could be life-changing for you and your family, so be sure to prepare yourself accordingly before your AQI reaches red. 

James and Lael preparing Pierce County for wildfire season!

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and Pierce Conservation District are currently partnering to provide free box fan filters for residents of Pierce County so that we can collectively. If you see us at a local event, or have questions about AQI or how to set up your own box fan filter, don't hesitate to contact us.