Check your Local Air Quality

Check your local air quality

Canadian wildfires may impact your air quality this week. Check your local air quality at airnow.gov and consider reducing your activity level or shortening the time you are active outdoors, especially those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens.

As of 2pm today, June 6th, the air quality in Orchard Park is reported as “Unhealthy.” Recommendations for staying safe in these conditions from airnow.gov are as follows:

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Keep outdoor activities short.
• Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

Everyone else – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

Symptoms of breathing in wildfire smoke:

Breathing in wildfire smoke can affect you right away causing:

• Coughing
• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• Asthma attacks
• Stinging eyes
• Scratchy throat
• Runny nose
• Irritated sinuses
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Chest pain
• Fast heartbeat

Who is affected?

Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick, but people with asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or heart disease, or who are pregnant and children and responders are especially at risk.

Learn more about how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at CDC.gov