The Wildfire Toolkit
Wildfire season (which historically took place in summer and fall) is a thing of the past. We are now seeing “wildfire years” – seasons that last all year long. Fires are burning bigger, faster, and hotter, with each wildfire year more damaging than the one before it.
And this is having a grave impact – not just on a select few, but on all of humanity.
Because wildfire smoke doesn’t stay put. It has been known to travel thousands of miles, affecting nearly everyone on the planet.
That’s why we’ve compiled these educational resources and safety tips. Because knowledge is power. Understanding how wildfires impact human health is the first step to truly protecting yourself and your family.
So please take advantage of these materials and educate yourself. Then share this information with others. Help us bring awareness to one of the most misunderstood human health issues affecting us all.
The Dahl Family Story
Listen to the podcast about one family’s experience during the Woolsey fire of 2018
How Wildfire Smoke Affects the Body
A recent study from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, found that smoke from wildfires can be up to 10 times more dangerous than other types of pollution, even traffic emissions. Click below to learn why.
How Far Smoke Can Travel in the U.S.
Contrary to popular opinion, it's not just the areas immediately surrounding wildfires that are affected by the smoke and pollution. The tiny particles from wildfires can travel huge distances and affect people in far off locations. Click below to learn more.
Wildfire Clean-Up and Remediation
There are two main ways to clean up wildfire smoke: The first and most obvious is surface cleaning. The second is air cleaning. And this is important even for those who live far away from where the actual fires are burning. Click below to learn more on how to effectively do both.
The Austin Air HealthMate Plus™
The Austin Air HealthMate Plus™ removes up to 99.97% of the particulates found in smoke.
If you’re concerned about smoke from wildfires or a wood burner, the Austin Air HealthMate Plus™ is our number one choice. Its unique blend of Activated Carbon, Potassium Iodide Impregnated Carbon, and Zeolite removes the widest range of chemicals and VOC’s, including those found in smoke
Clean Air Grants for Schools and Businesses!
Help for Schools
Because children are among the most vulnerable when it comes to the harmful effects of wildfire smoke, it’s important to also consider the air quality in schools, not just homes. Toxic school air can not only affect a child’s ability to perform, but can also cause neurodevelopmental effects and even lower a child’s IQ.
That’s why many schools are using government funding to essentially get “free” air purifiers for schools. Several grant opportunities totaling hundreds of billions of dollars are available in all 50 states to help improve air quality in schools.
Austin Air Systems has been helping schools and school districts across the country acquire these funds and navigate the process. In fact, Austin Air now offers a faster, easier solution to the bid process – which has proven quite helpful for schools impacted by wildfires needing quicker remediation
Help for Businesses
Wildfire smoke can also negatively impact the air quality in various offices and commercial buildings causing an unsafe work environment for employees.
These wildfire pollutants are in addition to numerous other pollutants being emitted from building materials, flooring, electronics, and furniture. These not only negatively impact worker productivity but also contribute to increased absenteeism.
Luckily, there is a massive amount of funding available for businesses to improve indoor air quality, too. It’s like getting FREE air purifiers for work! So Austin Air has also been helping business owners, managers, and facilities directors locate those funds
Additional Resources/Links
●
The National Child Traumatic
Stress Network (NCTSN) https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/wildfire-resources
● Red Cross, Checking Your Home After a Fire https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/checking-home-after-fire.html
● Red Cross, Cleaning Up After a Fire https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/cleaning-up-after-fire.html
● Red Cross, Wildfire Relief https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/wildfire-relief.html
● FEMA, After the Fire Guide https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_46.pdf
● US Small Business Association Disaster Loan Assistance https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/
● CDC's Eight Tips for Protecting Yourself from Breathing Wildfire Smoke https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/smoke.html
Check Your Location!
Click on The map below to show air quality conditions from fine particulate matter (PM2.5) generated by
various sources including wildfire smoke.
Learn More
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