As of this morning, the District of Columbia's air quality has been elevated to Code Purple.
All outdoor activity is recommended to move indoors for all activities and people. In line with DC Public Safety and other institutions, Events DC has instructed CRYSP to cancel all permits today at The Fields at RFK. Credits will be offered for future reservations.
Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the following information:
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) issued a “Code Red” air quality alert for Washington, DC on Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8. In response, Mayor Muriel Bowser and District officials from DOEE, the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Health (DC Health) are urging residents and visitors to follow precautions related to the “Code Red” air quality alert.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires is causing unhealthy air quality in the Washington, DC area and the northeast United States, and this problem is likely to continue or worsen through Friday. DC Health and DOEE recommend that residents pay attention to local air quality reports and the US Air Quality Index at airnow.gov.
When the Air Quality Index is above 150 in your area (Code Red), District residents are recommended to:
- Avoid exercising and other strenuous activities outdoors.
- Older adults (over age 65), children, pregnant women, and those who have heart disease, asthma, or other chronic lung disease, should stay indoors as much as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.
- Use an air filter. Use a freestanding indoor air filter with particle removal. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on filter replacement and where to place the device.
- If you are vulnerable because of age or medical conditions and must be outdoors, consider wearing a tight-fitting N95 or KN95 mask. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores or ordinary cloth masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. However, a tightly-fitting “N95” mask or “KN95 mask” will offer some protection. See the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- If you have asthma, chronic lung disease, or heart disease, follow your doctor’s advice about medicines. Call your doctor if you have difficulty breathing or worsening symptoms.
When the Air Quality Index is above 200 in your area (Code Purple or Maroon), all groups should stay indoors as much as possible. Those who must work outside should reduce work outside if possible, and if not, wear a mask (N95 or KN95 equivalent).
When the Air Quality Index is between 100 and 150 in your area (Code Orange), follow these tips:
- Older adults (over age 65), children, pregnant women, and those who have heart disease, asthma or other chronic lung disease, should avoid exercising outdoors.
- If you have asthma, chronic lung disease, or heart disease, follow your doctor’s advice about medicines. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
