Smoke from wildfires is becoming a reality that individuals and communities face each fire season. Want to learn how you can protect yourself and those you care about from wildfire smoke? In this webinar, we talk about smoke impacts to human health, how to access important air quality information and how to differentiate between the levels of air quality. We also cover things you can do right now to prepare.
Originally aired on May 2, 2022
Presenters: Margaret Miller (ODEQ) and Jamie Bash (OHA)
Webinar presentations slides - Smoke Ready Oregon
Resources
*Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality offer resources in multiple languages.*
Shelter grants available!
The Oregon Department of Human Services is offering grants for local governments, Tribal Nations and public education providers to address shelter needs for 1) Cleaner air shelters during wildfire smoke and other poor air quality events and 2) Cooling and warming shelters. More information can be found, https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EmergencyManagement/Pages/emergency-shelter.aspx
What is wildfire smoke and the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
- What is wildfire smoke? https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/why-wildfire-smoke-health-concern
- Wildfires & Smoke, www.healthoregon.org/wildfires
- Oregon Smoke Information Blog, https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
- For smartphones and tablets, download the OregonAir app
- Sign up for DEQ alert notifications, https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDEQ/subscriber/new?topic_id=ORDEQ_432
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Monitoring, https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map
Pro-action - resources to help you prepare for wildfire smoke
- Oregon wildfire response protocol for severe smoke episodes, https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/WFresponse.pdf
- OHA Public Health Guidance: School outdoor activities during wildfire events, https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served//le8815H.pdf
- Outdoor workers exposed to wildfire smoke, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/firefighting/wffsmoke.html and https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/topics/wildfires.aspx
- OHA Do it yourself DIY air filer, https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREPAREDNESS/PREPARE/Documents/Fact-Sheet-DIY-Air-Filter.pdf
- Certified room air cleaners, https://www.ahamdir.com/room-air-cleaners/
- N95 Respirator – How to put on and use from Oregon OSHA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucmx_hj1SW8
- Oregon Department of Agriculture, Caring for livestock affected by smoke or fire, https://www.oregon.gov/oda/shared/Documents/Publications/AnimalHealth/CaringforLivestockAfterWildfire.pdf
- Protect your emotional well-being. After a wildfire, you may feel sad, mad, guilty, or numb. These are all normal reactions to stress. Talk to a psychologist, social worker, or professional counselor if you need help coping. https://www.safestrongoregon.org/mental-and-emotional-health/get-help-now/crisis-helplines
