Dear Residents,

As you may know, an air quality warning has been issued due to wildfire activity in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Please consider the following actions to protect your health on poor air quality days:

Sensitive populations (which includes the elderly, infants and young children, and people with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or chronic bronchitis) should remain indoors.

Individuals with asthma: Poor air quality may trigger asthma attacks.

Individuals with respiratory diseases: Follow physician’s recommendations and respiratory management plan.

People, in general, should avoid strenuous activities and limit the amount of time they are active outdoors.

For people who work outdoors or need to be outside:

• Take more breaks indoors if possible
• Shorten the length and intensity of any physical activity

If an air conditioner is available, run it while keeping the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.

When outdoor air quality is poor, do not use candles and fireplaces, which could add to indoor air pollution. 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.

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. People who must be outside can have some protection from an N95 mask if worn properly.

Visit AirNow.gov to see your current air quality forecast.

You can also visit the CDC’s page, About Air Quality

NWBRHC Staff