Air quality advisory for Southern Deschutes County due to stagnation [Aviso sobre la calidad del aire]

La Pine, Ore.-The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for southern Deschutes County due to stagnant air conditions trapping smoke and other air pollutants near the ground where people breathe.

DEQ expects the air quality advisory to last through the weekend until Monday morning at 10 a.m.

Check current air quality conditions and advisories on DEQ's Air Quality Index or by downloading the OregonAIR on your app on your smartphone.

Check with your local heath or air agency for current restrictions on woodstove use. There are often exceptions for those who use wood exclusively to heat their homes and those with limited income.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health:

• Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
• People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high.
• Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
• Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible.

DEQ's color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions. Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all groups. Maroon is hazardous.Contact: DEQ: Chris Varley, Public Affairs Specialist, Portland, 503-933-0514, [email protected]