Air Quality and PSPS Outages - Public Health Recommendations

Wednesday, January 15

Air Quality and Masking:

High risk groups include children under 18, adults over 65, people with chronic heart or lung disease, people who are pregnant and people with diabetes. Adults who are active outdoors, including outdoor workers and avid exercisers, can be considered at higher risk because of prolonged exposure. All these groups are most likely to be the first to experience the effects of ozone and particle pollution, so they need to take extra steps to protect themselves from harm.

On days when the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy or hazardous:

  1. Reduce the time you spend outdoors. Also, reduce the intensity of outdoor activity. According to the EPA, the chances of being affected by unhealthy levels of air pollution increase the longer a person is active outdoors and the more strenuous the activity. 
  2. If you must go outdoors, consider wearing a mask. Not all masks provide adequate protection against particle pollution. Cloth or dust masks, for instance, may not effectively filter out fine particles. However, well-fitted N95 or KN95 masks have better filtration capabilities and may be beneficial on days when the air quality level of concern is high.
  3. Keep your indoor air healthy by closing doors and windows. Run air conditioning on the recirculate setting, use a portable HEPA air cleaner or, if it is difficult to maintain clean air in your entire house, consider creating a clean room such as a bedroom with an attached bathroom to avoid opening/closing the door frequently.

Insulin Management and Care during Power Outages: 

Insulin management during Power Outages can be challenging, but there are ways you can work to store and protect your medications:

  • Keep them in a portable cooler with gel ice packs or ice to ensure that the medication stays at an appropriate temperature. If you are unsure about the temperature, see if a thermometer is available that can be used to check the temperature of the cooler.  
  • If you anticipate the power being out for 24 hours or less, leave your insulin in the refrigerator and minimize times opening the door to keep the temperature.  
  • Store the cooler away from windows or direct sunlight that can increase the temperature in the cooler.  
  • If you have access to a generator or other location to store your insulin in a refrigerator, move your insulin to ensure it maintains proper temperature.  
  • If you need assistance in replacing your insulin, reach out to your pharmacy or primary care provider to discuss options while the power remains out and for afterward.  

For additional information on preparedness during emergency situations, please visit: Emergency T1D Planning - National Preparedness Month

If you need assistance with getting ice please, visit us at one of our care and reception site locations: 

Norton Younglove Community Center - 459 Center St, Riverside, CA 92507
Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

 Home Gardens Library - 3785 S Neece St, Corona, CA 92879
Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

French Valley Airport - 37600 Sky Canyon Dr, Murrieta, CA 92563
Hours: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Racho Bellasante - 24351 Carancho Rd, Temecula, CA 92590
Hours: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 

Idyllwild Library - 54401 Village Center Dr, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549
Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

James A Venable Community Center - 50390 Carmen Ave, Cabazon, CA 92230
Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Additional Resources:

For more information about active incidents in Riverside County, how to prepare for emergencies and more, visit: www.rivcoready.org

The best way to stay informed is to sign up for notifications from Alert RivCo. To sign up, visit: www.rivcoready.org/alert-rivco

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