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If air quality is poor, it may be best to keep children indoors, especially during unhealthy smoke events. If children must go outside:
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Limit outdoor time and strenuous activity. Try to reduce how much smoke they breathe in.
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Keep children away from smoky areas and avoid outdoor exercise, sports, or play when AQI levels are unhealthy.
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Take frequent breaks indoors or in cleaner air if outdoor exposure cannot be avoided.
Make sure indoor air is as clean as possible during smoke events. Here’s what you can do:
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Consider creating a clean room in your home where children can spend time with reduced exposure to smoke,
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Close windows and doors to keep smoke out.
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Use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter if possible. Read these tips and avoid products that intentionally produce ozone.
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Use a do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaner if portable air cleaners are not an option. Watch this video to learn how to build a DIY air cleaner that can be used during wildfires and other emergencies.
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Install a high-efficiency HVAC filter with a MERV-13 rating, or as high a rating as your system fan and filter slot can accommodate. You may need to consult with an HVAC technician for guidance.
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Adjust your HVAC system or air conditioner to keep smoke out of your home.
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Avoid creating more indoor pollution by not smoking, burning candles, vacuuming, frying or broiling food, or burning wood.
Learn more about ways you can protect your family from wildfire smoke.
For more information, see wildfire information for families and communities.
Schools, daycares, and other child-occupied facilities can take steps to protect children in learning environments.
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Limit outdoor activity and organized athletic events when air quality is poor or forecasted to get worse.
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Reduce smoke intrusion by closing doors and windows, weatherizing buildings and limiting allowable entrances. Adjust HVAC equipment to keep smoke out of buildings.
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Use high-efficiency (MERV 13+) filters and portable air cleaners to filter particles in smoke out of indoor air.
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Check air filters and change them when dirty.
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Reduce indoor sources of air pollution.
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Monitor indoor PM2.5 to verify that actions are reducing smoke indoors.
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Air out buildings when air quality improves, even temporarily.
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Learn more about steps schools and child-occupied facilities can take, using the following resources:
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Watch children closely for symptoms such as:
- Coughing that gets worse
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Chest pain or tightness
- Dizziness
- Severe tiredness
- Asthma symptoms that are getting worse
If a child has trouble breathing or serious symptoms, seek medical help right away.
Keep an eye on AirNow. Once air quality improves, even temporarily, you can air out your home by opening windows and using your HVAC system’s fresh air intake if conditions are safe.
If you are especially close to a wildfire, you may also need to clean up ash or debris. You can find instructions for protecting yourself and safeguarding children during ash clean up and learn more from the Protect Yourself from Ash fact sheet.
Learn what to do before, during, and after a wildfire smoke event to help keep children safe from smoke exposure indoors and outdoors.
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