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Wildfire Smoke Poses Danger to Older Adults, Others
Reduce your exposure to harmful pollutants
A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7, 2025.
David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Older adults face higher risks from wildfire smoke, especially if they have lung and heart conditions.
- Checking the air quality index and limiting outdoor activity help reduce exposure to smoke.
- Cleaner indoor air and wearing proper masks can lower the risk of inhaling fine particles that can be harmful.
Wildfire smoke is reaching more Americans than ever. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that smoke from wildfires in the U.S., Canada and Mexico has increasingly blanketed large portions of the country, raising levels of harmful fine-particle pollution across the nation.
Over the past 20 years, wildfires have grown larger, though the number of blazes has been about the same, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reports. And older adults are disproportionately affected. People 50 to 79 years old are more likely to live in areas with moderate to very high risks of wildfire, data shows. Older adults are also at greater risk of dying as a result of nearby fires, and they face unique challenges to staying safe, including keeping their medical equipment running and having access to their medications.
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To protect yourself from the health hazards associated with these blazes, you’ll need to avoid exposure to smoke.
The American Lung Association cautions that people who fall into the following categories should monitor their breathing and exposure to wildfire smoke:
- People over age 65 or under 18
- Outdoor workers
- Pregnant women
- People who have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or other lung diseases
- People with chronic heart disease, chronic kidney disease or diabetes
How to reduce your smoke exposure
These tips can help prevent exposure to wildfire smoke:
1. Use the air quality index
The EPA’s color-coded air quality index (AQI) measures how clean or polluted the air is and what associated health effects might be of concern, especially for ground-level ozone and particle pollution. The EPA’s website AirNow.gov allows users to enter a ZIP code to get an air quality forecast.
The AQI shows harmful particle pollution on a scale of zero to 500. Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy for everyone. Smoke from wildfires contains particulate matter 2.5, or PM2.5, meaning it has fine particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller, which can enter your lungs and bloodstream and affect other organs, according to the American Lung Association.
“Check outdoor AQI before you do anything,” warns Rob Jackson, an environmental scientist at Stanford University. “If the air pollution is bad, the number one thing to do, unfortunately, is to stay indoors.”
Understanding the AQI can help you protect your health.
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Here’s how the AQI scale works:
Green. Good air quality — zero to 50. “It’s a great day to be active outdoors.”
Yellow. Moderate air quality — 51 to 100. People who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution should consider shorter and less intense outdoor activities.
Orange. Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups — 101 to 150. Older adults; people with asthma, heart or lung disease; children and teenagers; minority populations; and outdoor workers should take more breaks outdoors and watch for coughing or shortness of breath.
Red. Air quality is unhealthy — 151 to 200. Everyone should consider avoiding intense or long outdoor activities and maybe move activities indoors.
Purple. Air quality is very unhealthy — 201 to 300. People sensitive to particle pollution should avoid all outdoor physical activity.
Maroon. Air quality is hazardous — 301 to 500. Everyone should avoid all outdoor physical activity.
2. Check the weather
Stay up to date on weather reports, check your state or local air quality agency’s website or go to AirNow.gov for information. Listen to the Emergency Alert System and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio for emergency alerts.
3. Avoid the outdoors
Stay inside if you can, and keep doors and windows closed.
Don’t exercise outdoors if the air quality is bad, says Jackson. “There’s nothing like drawing pollution deep into your lungs to increase your exposure to toxins.”
Not at high risk for health complications? You should still avoid going out for a walk or mowing the lawn, for example.
As for what to do indoors, if it’s hard to “seal off” your entire space, designate a room where you can spend time when you need to be inside.
“Staying indoors may seem like a way to protect yourself, and it might be if you live or work in a building that has a good ventilation system with recirculation and high-grade filters, but most buildings do not meet this standard,” notes Doug Brugge, chair of the department of public health sciences at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
4. Clean your indoor air
Staying indoors is one thing, but making sure the air inside is clean is another. If you are running an air conditioner, check the filter; be sure to use high-efficiency filters that can capture fine particles from smoke (the Centers for Disease Control recommend one with a MERV rating of 13 or higher). Recirculate air from the inside so you’re not cooling air that’s been outside.
Use an air purifier or air cleaner if possible. If you don’t have an air purifier or can’t acquire one, you can build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box from air filters and a box fan, Brugge says.
If you’re in your car, run the air conditioner on recirculate mode so it doesn’t draw in smoke-filled air. While indoors, resist the urge to vacuum, fry or broil meat, use a gas stove or burn candles, which can pollute the air.
“If you’re closing windows and tightening your house, then don’t release additional pollution to breathe indoors,” Jackson says. “If you’re keeping outdoor pollution out, then by definition, you’re keeping indoor pollution in.”
5. Mask up
If you go outside, consider wearing an N95, P100 or KN95 mask, which can filter fine particles less than 0.3 micrometers wide. A surgical mask won’t provide as much protection.
6. Pay attention to pets
Keep them indoors and include pet essentials in your evacuation bag if you make one. Birds are very susceptible to wildfire smoke, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
7. Be prepared to evacuate
You may not have to leave, but keeping critical items in a “go bag” can make last-minute evacuations easier. In addition to items for you, your family and pets, ensure you have a way to get news and health alerts. Chargers for your phone and computer are particularly important, because most people use these devices to get the latest information and alerts. Your go bag should also have a charged power bank. (See “Essential Technology to Have During Natural Disaster” for helpful apps and gadgets.)
Even if you don’t have to leave, it’s smart to have a few days’ worth of food and water on hand. And if you live in an area with frequent wildfires, it’s a good idea to take a video of all the belongings in your house. This may take some time but can be invaluable if you need to file an insurance claim later.
Editor's note: This story, originally published June 7, 2023, has been updated to reflect new information.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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