Where there's smoke ...

No, it’s not you or your smudgy sunglasses. There has been a definite haze over the Four Corners – and most of the Western U.S. – the last few days. And lest you have PTSD from our last local wildfires, you can breathe a sigh of relief, at least metaphorically. The current smoke blanketing our region is from wildfires burning in Oregon, Washington and Canada and is expected to keep skies hazy for the news few days, according to meteorologists and public health officials.

Of course, all this smoke does more than ruin a good vista. It can also wreak havoc on your lungs and outdoor exercise plans.

Obviously, one way around this is to work out indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned gym or home. If you don’t have this luxury, working out in a “safe room” with closed windows and a HEPA filter is your next best bet, according to public health officials. (Maybe think of it like a hot yoga class.)

But what about driving in your car? Health experts suggest if you have to drive in smoky conditions, roll up your windows and set the vents to “recirculate.” As an added bonus, this can also help protect you from traffic air pollution and impromptu coal-rolling as well.

And last but not least, you can always pull out those N95 (or similar) masks, if you’ve still got some lying around. A well-fitted mask or respirator can block the tiny particles in wildfire smoke, although the prospect of a long ride or run in one may not be too appealing.

Not sure if smoke has reached hazardous levels? In addition to the handy weather app on your smart phone, there are plenty of places to find current air quality readings including the monitoring sites page from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the EPA’s AirNow.gov, which can also be downloaded as an app. The resource also offers air quality forecasts.

There are also third-party apps, such as Plume and IQAir, which use a combination of government air monitors and data from smaller air sensors.

Or better yet, sign up for air quality email alerts (www.colorado.gov/airquality/) from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to be notified when smoke, ozone or other air advisories are issued.