State environmental and health officials announced that air quality Friday, Aug. 1, is expected to be poor in the area because of smoke from Canadian wild fires.

The air is expected to be in the orange range, which means “members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include children, older adults, those with breathing or heart disorders including asthma and COPD and even active adults,” according to an alert from Illinois EnviroFlash.

The air was worse on Thursday, July 31, when the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a red alert, noting that “particulate matter can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and early death.

“Some symptoms to look out for include wheezing, coughing, a rapid heartbeat, tiredness, chest pain and shortness of breath. If symptoms worsen, call your physician or 911.”

Officials urge residents to “keep cool and limit physical activity outdoors when air quality is low.”

• Stay indoors and monitor your breathing, especially if you have heart or lung disease, and keep windows and doors closed.
• If your air conditioner has a fresh air intake, set your system to recirculate or close the intake.
• Use high-efficiency filters in air conditioning systems and portable air cleaners.
• Avoid activities that create more particulate matter indoors, like smoking or burning candles.
• If you cannot avoid working or other outdoor activities, choose shorter or less intense activities, consider rescheduling, and take more frequent breaks.
• Consider wearing a high-quality N-95 or N-100 mask while outdoors.

Because air quality can change from day to day, the Illinois EPA provides daily air quality forecasts based on the Air Quality Index. Air quality forecasts are available at www.airnow.gov. Residents are also encouraged to subscribe to receive free air quality forecasts via email or Twitter at http://illinois.enviroflash.info.