The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Alert for Friday due to the wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota.
Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.
Air Quality Index: What do the numbers mean?
During Code Purple Air Quality Alerts all residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities. All residents are encouraged to move activities indoors.
Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Alert areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:
Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipmentAvoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials
Experts advise residents to track the air quality with the weather app on your phone or the Air Now website.
According to Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, the air quality index, or AQI, is acceptable if it’s between 0 and 50. But, he said, if the AQI is between 50 and 100, “those with preexisting lung conditions, and those with preexisting heart conditions, you want to try to minimize your time out.”
For anything above 100, Dr. Galiatsatos said everyone, regardless of medical history, should limit their time outside.