(19:40) MONTEREY- The Monterey County Health Department has issued an air quality alert due to smoke from wildfires. The Department is urging residents to use common sense. If it looks smoky outside, it’s probably not a good time to go for a run. And it’s probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors.If you have a heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have children, consider staying indoors if you have air filtration or air conditioning to avoid breathing the smoke particles. If you decide to remain, talk with your doctor about whether, and when, you should leave the area.Run your air conditioner, if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed, and the filters clean, to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Note: if you don’t have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. In these cases, seek alternative shelters. If you have further questions, there is extensive information about the health effects of wildfire smoke at the Health Department website www.mtyhd.org. The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District website tracks air quality in our area and is updating its current air quality forecast hourly at http://mbuapcd.org.
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