VALLEY — The San Luis Valley Public Health Partnership wants to encourage residents to be proactive in protecting their health when wildfire smoke or dust is present in the air. “Be informed and take action to protect yourself if conditions are unhealthy, whether or not an official warning or advisory has been issued. That is the message we want to get across to everyone this fire season,” says Rio Grande County Public Health Director Emily Brown.

If you can see moderate to heavy smoke or dust in the air where you are, air quality has reached levels that are unhealthy. Most healthy people with a short or light exposure to wildfire smoke will recover quickly and will not suffer long-term consequences. However, there are some factors that increase the likelihood of health problems:

* Exposure to very heavy smoke or exposure over a longer period of time

* Children, elderly and pregnant women

* Pre-existing asthma, COPD, or other chronic lung or heart diseases

Here are some ways you can be proactive and protect yourself and your loved ones.

* Gauge risk by checking visibility. If visibility is less than 5 miles, consider minimizing outdoor activity. The 5-3-1 method can be a helpful guide, and it can be found at nmfireinfo.com/smoke-management.

* When air quality is bad outside stay indoors, close doors and windows, and avoid smoking inside.

* If it is too hot to stay indoors, consider going to another location until conditions improve.

* If you have an air conditioner, check the settings if possible to recirculate air indoors rather than bringing in smoky air from outdoors.

* If you are at risk or if smoke is very heavy, reduce physical activity.

No matter how far you can see, if you feel like you are having health effects from smoke exposure then take extra care to stay inside or get to an area with better air quality. Check with your doctor as needed. Symptoms related to smoke exposure include runny eyes and/or nose, coughing, sore throat, trouble breathing or chest tightness (which may be symptoms of a health emergency), exacerbation of pre-existing respiratory ailments like asthma or emphysema, or weakened immune system.

While public health often does release air quality advisories, health officials face some challenges when it comes to warning the public about dangerous conditions related to wildfire smoke. Explains Alamosa County Public Health Director Della Vieira, “We live in a vast region with conditions that can change quickly. It isn’t always possible for us to know right away when air quality has reached unhealthy levels in another part of the Valley, or from one place to another within the same county, so it is important for people to know this information ahead of time.”