Summertime in the US and Canada can mean many people often live with the threat of forest fires. For those people living nearby there is the very obvious and direct threat of fire. But the health of the wider population is also affected. Haze from fires, combined with hot and humid weather can result in dangerously low levels of air quality.Forest fire smoke can cause various health problems, from irritated eyes and throat, to coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. It also contains pollutants such as carbon monoxide that can travel deep into the lungs, having a catastrophic effect on the health of people with existing respiratory problems.

When air quality is bad, be sure to take care. If you suffer from asthma, allergies, COPD or any other type of respiratory problem, stay indoors with the windows closed. Even for those of us with healthy lungs, when air quality is low, it is not advisable to take part in any strenuous activity outdoors, such as running or cycling.Try to keep the air inside your home as clean as it can be. Don’t burn anything, that includes wood or gas stoves, even candles should be avoided. If you have a Certified HEPA Material air purifier at home, be sure to use it at all times. And keep an eye on local weather reports, so that you can avoid leaving the house when air quality is particularly bad.

Follow the link to read more about what you can do to stay healthy when the air outdoors is bad.

If you are looking to improve the quality of air in your home and don’t yet have a Certified HEPA Material air purifier, visit our Products page to find out which one of our air purifiers is right for you

Latest Stories

View all

The Most Tested. The Most Trusted. Why That Matters More Than Ever.

The Most Tested. The Most Trusted. Why That Matters More Than Ever.

When the air around you becomes a threat—from wildfire smoke, chemical disasters, or toxic VOC releases—your air purifier either performs or it doesn't. Austin Air has spent decades proving, through independent testing, government deployments, and eight rigorous clinical trials, that...

Read more

I Just Spent a Week with 13,000 Lung Experts. Here's What Worried Me Most

I Just Spent a Week with 13,000 Lung Experts. Here's What Worried Me Most

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the 2026 American Thoracic Society International Conference in Orlando, Florida. More than 13,000 clinicians, researchers, pulmonologists, and healthcare professionals gathered under one roof—some of the brightest minds in respiratory medicine on the...

Read more

They Deserved More Time: Honoring Those We Have Lost to Asthma and Anaphylaxis

They Deserved More Time: Honoring Those We Have Lost to Asthma and Anaphylaxis

In memory of every person whose life was cut short by a disease the world still does not take seriously enough. On May 24th, Asthma and Anaphylaxis Remembrance Day takes place around the world. It is an observance that most...

Read more

Powered by Omni Themes