How a Clean Air Plan Can Save Your Health Before & During a Wildfire

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) - The impact of smoke from wildfires can often be deceiving.   

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is encouraging the public to have a clean air plan prior to the next big fire either here or nearby.

Smoke and ash contain very small particles known as particulate matter, which can travel from wildfires even hundreds of miles away.

These particles harm the lungs and heart, and can cause coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and nausea.

The most vulnerable are kids, seniors, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung conditions.

The best protection is to find a location with clean air, or create a clean room yourself.

That can be with a do it yourself system using a box fan and a filter or with a HEPA purifier. The HEPA filter should be checked to be the right size for your room, such as a normal sized bedroom to be able to work efficiently.

Santa Barbara County has had many wildfires that have turned the skies into a rusty color, an indicator of the bad air swirling around. Often you can also see smoke coming in from other areas depending on the wind patterns. Another example would be if your car is covered in ash, which means it is present in the air flow.

The APCD has more information and videos here.   

Here is a step by step plan to build your own filer.

• Use strong tape to attach a 20x20 MERV-rated air filter — like you would use for your HVAC system — to a 20x20 box fan. Attach it to the back of the fan for a better seal.
• Use a filter with a MERV rating of 13.
• Check the filter for the direction of the air flow, marked on the side of the filter.
• As needed, disassemble the box fan to wipe away any accumulated dirt.
• For safety, follow these precautions:
• Use a box fan that is from 2012 or newer, due to added safety features.
• Don’t leave the device unattended, and turn it off while sleeping.
• When the fan is modified like this, use the device as an air cleaner, not as fan to cool your home.

(More details, photos and video will be added here later today.)

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