Practical preparedness. Calm, inclusive, evidence-led.Low-data versionUse offline
PREPARENOW
MenuClose

Essentials

Smoke and air quality emergency preparation

Air hazards can become urgent quickly and the correct action depends on the source. Wildfire smoke, a chemical release, dust and infectious disease are not managed in the same way.

Start the checklistBrowse all guides
From AidWorkers Humanitarian experience applied at homeEvidence base 4 named sourcesReviewed 25 July 2026

Why this matters

Know who has asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, pregnancy or other increased risk. Keep prescribed medicines available and ask a qualified clinician how disrupted air quality may affect the individual plan.

Identify the cleanest practical room in the home and learn how to reduce outside air only when authorities advise it. Buildings still need safe ventilation in ordinary conditions, and fuel-burning devices can create deadly carbon monoxide.

Before disruption

Prepare now

  • Find your official air-quality, fire, public-health and industrial incident alert sources.
  • Keep prescribed inhalers and respiratory equipment accessible, maintained and within expiry dates.
  • Choose a room that can be kept comfortable with doors and windows closed for a limited period.
  • Check that smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms are correctly placed, tested and understood.
  • If respirators are recommended locally, obtain the right type and learn their limits and fit requirements.

When it is happening

Protect the next decision

  1. Follow the incident instruction to leave, shelter, ventilate or seek medical help.
  2. Move away from visible smoke, dust or fumes when it is safe and authorities have not directed otherwise.
  3. Reduce strenuous activity and monitor people with breathing or heart conditions.
  4. Seek urgent medical help for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse or other local emergency signs.

Plan for real people

Access, care and inclusion

  • Respirators may not fit children or some adults and may be unsuitable for some medical conditions.
  • Plan backup power for oxygen concentrators, suction devices and other essential equipment.
  • Use visual and written alerts for people who may not hear alarms.
  • Remember animals, support workers and anyone who cannot reach or seal windows independently.

Mental readiness

Protect morale and clear thinking

  • Breathing slowly can help with panic, but it must never be used to dismiss real breathing difficulty.
  • Keep the clean-air space calm, uncluttered and supplied with quiet activities.
  • Limit repeated checking of frightening images while continuing to monitor official updates.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

  • Using a mask as a reason to enter smoke, fumes or a restricted area.
  • Sealing a room while using candles, gas burners, generators or other combustion devices.
  • Assuming one filter or respirator protects against every gas, particle or biological hazard.

Evidence and review

Sources behind this guide

Prepare Now uses authoritative government, humanitarian and public-health material as a starting point. Source advice can be specific to a country, hazard or date, so check the current version for your location.

Continue preparing

Shelter & temperaturePrepare for heat, cold, damaged buildings, temporary shelter and instructions to stay indoors.First aid & medicinePrepare skills, supplies, prescriptions, health information and backup plans for interrupted care.All hazard guidancePrepare across flood, storm, fire, heat, cold, earthquake, disease, conflict and service failure without mixing incompatible advice.

Editorial status: first staging edition. Safety-critical instructions will receive specialist and jurisdiction review before public launch.