Smoke from Canada wildfires impacting local air quality.

The current Air Quality Index (AQI) in Fluvanna County is rated as unhealthy for all people. Older adults, pregnant women, children and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions may experience more serious effects.

This is due to an increase in particulates hanging in the air as a result of the Canadian wildfires. It is uncertain when the air will clear, but meteorologists predict a change in weather pattern beginning tomorrow and over the weekend.

For up-to-date air quality, please visit airnow.gov.

To help reduce your exposure, please follow these guidelines from the CDC:

Tips for Protecting Yourself from Breathing Wildfire Smoke

• Pay attention to local air quality reports and the US Air Quality Index (AQI). Pay attention to public health messages and take extra safety measures such as avoiding spending time outdoors.
• Pay attention to visibility guides if they are available. Although not every community measures the amount of particles in the air, some communities in the western United States have guidelines to help people estimate air quality based on how far they can see.
• If you are told to stay indoors, stay indoors and keep your indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is very 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. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed.
• Use an air filter. Use a freestanding indoor air filter with particle removal to help protect people with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions and the elderly and children from the effects of wildfire smoke. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on filter replacement and where to place the device.
• Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles and fireplaces. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Do not smoke tobacco or other products, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
• Follow your doctor’s advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease or cardiovascular disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection. If you decide to keep a mask on hand, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Masks are available in the County Administration Office.