Director of Respiratory Services Gives Advice on Staying Healthy in Poor Air Quality

With the wildfires spreading across California, it’s more important than ever to stay safe while outdoors when the air quality is poor. Even if you’re hundreds of miles from the nearest fire, the air quality can still impact you.

Joe Garcia, Director of Respiratory Services for Doctors Medical Center, Emanuel Medical Center and Doctors Hospital of Manteca, recently spoke with The Modesto Bee about ways to stay safe and healthy.

To help avoid poor quality air, Garcia recommends:

• Stay indoors
• Wear a mask if you must be outdoors
• Monitor air quality using the news, weather forecasts or an AQI app
• If you must do an outdoor activity, try to do it early in the day, as AQI may be best then
• If you work outside, change your clothes before entering the house
• Keep the indoors as clean as possible by keeping doors and windows closed, regular vacuuming and frequently changing bed linens, as particulate matter can escape to the inside
• Keep clean filters on central air conditioning units
• If you need medications, such as for asthma or chronic lung disease, take them as prescribed and make sure you have refills available. If you have persistent respiratory symptoms, contact your health care provider