Air Quality – Why is it important?

Recently, our air quality in the Dayton area has been affected by the wildfires in Canada. When the wind is from the North or Northwest, the wildfire smoke drifts over this region of the U.S. and greatly impacts our air quality. I went for a bike ride last week and when I returned, I had a stuffy nose and burning, watery eyes. It wasn’t until later that I learned that the “Air Quality Index” was in the red, “Unhealthy” category. The weatherman said that all people should avoid outside activities, especially vigorous activities for long periods of time. Prior to this, I had heard mention of ozone layers being unhealthy but never had really learned about air quality and how to track it on a daily basis.

Since my bike ride, I have read and listened to some important tips on how to track air quality and what to do with the information once you find it. A great resource to find current air quality is www.airnow.gov. You put in your zip code and this is what you will see:

You can use this information to determine if you should be outside to work or play on any given day.

Exposure to particulate matter in the air can be dangerous even for people who don’t have lung or breathing problems like asthma. Your risk can be reduced by following the guidelines in this infographic from the CDC and by being more intentional about your outdoor activities.

You can learn more at www.cdc.gov/ephtracking.

Beth Ewing, RN, MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC

LSIM Faith Community Nurse