Wildfire Smoke Safety for Kids: Home & School

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide explains how to reduce children’s exposure to wildfire smoke at both school and home. You’ll learn practical steps for creating cleaner indoor air, planning for high-smoke days, and responding when air quality is unhealthy. It covers what to do before, during, and after a smoke event, and includes a list of items you may want to have on hand.

What You’ll Need

Portable air cleaner (HEPA filter) or DIY box fan filter
High-efficiency HVAC filters (MERV 13 or higher, if compatible)
Weatherstripping or draft tape for windows and doors
N95 or KN95 respirators for older children (not for infants)
Air quality monitor (optional, for home)
Clean cloths and water for wiping surfaces
Medications (e.g., inhalers) if your child has asthma

Step-by-Step

Check air quality daily. Use AirNow.gov or your local air quality agency to see the Air Quality Index (AQI). Plan activities based on the AQI, especially during wildfire season.
Create a clean air room at home. Choose a room where your family spends the most time. Close windows and doors, and run a portable air cleaner continuously. If you don’t have one, make a DIY box fan filter by attaching a MERV 13 filter to a box fan with tape.
Seal gaps. Use weatherstripping or tape around windows and doors to reduce smoke entering. Close fireplace dampers and seal any obvious cracks.
Upgrade your HVAC filter. If you have central heating/cooling, install a high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 or higher) and run the system on recirculate mode. Change filters regularly.
Reduce indoor sources of pollution. Avoid burning candles, using gas stoves, vacuuming (it stirs up particles), and smoking indoors. Use a damp cloth to wipe surfaces.
Communicate with your child’s school. Ask the school about their air quality plan. Inquire about: whether they have portable air cleaners, if they close windows and doors on smoky days, and if they have a policy for keeping kids indoors during recess and PE.
Plan for outdoor activities. When AQI is unhealthy for sensitive groups (above 100), keep children indoors as much as possible. If they must go outside, limit time and avoid strenuous activity. For older children (ages 10+), an N95 mask can help, but it must fit properly.
Protect infants and young children. Babies under 2 years old should not wear masks. Keep them indoors in a clean air room. For infants, use a portable air cleaner in the nursery and keep windows closed.
Prepare a go-kit. If evacuation is possible, have a bag ready with medications, masks, water, and important documents.
Monitor symptoms. Watch for coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or eye irritation. If your child has asthma, follow their action plan and have rescue inhalers available.

Common Mistakes

Using a single-room air cleaner in a large open space. Air cleaners are sized for a specific room. Check the CADR rating and make sure it matches the room size.
Opening windows “for fresh air” during smoke events. This lets smoke in. Keep windows closed unless it’s extremely hot and there’s no air conditioning.
Running a whole-house fan or bathroom exhaust fan. These draw outdoor air in, increasing indoor smoke.
Using a standard surgical mask for children. These do not filter fine particles. Only N95 or KN95 respirators work, and only for children who can wear them properly.
Forgetting to change HVAC filters. A clogged filter reduces airflow and doesn’t clean the air effectively.
Assuming school will automatically keep kids inside. Many schools lack clear policies. You must ask and advocate.

Tips

Create a “clean air kit” for your child’s classroom: a small HEPA air cleaner, a box fan with a filter, and a note asking the teacher to keep windows closed.
Use the AirNow app or sign up for air quality alerts on your phone.
On smoky days, serve indoor activities like board games or reading.
Keep a list of indoor activities for kids to avoid boredom.
If you have a car, set the air to recirculate when driving through smoky areas.
Wash children’s hair and clothes after they’ve been outside to remove particles.

Troubleshooting

Air cleaner seems ineffective. Check that the filter is clean and properly seated. Make sure the unit is sized for the room. If the room is very large, you may need two units.
School won’t allow air cleaners. Offer to provide a letter from your child’s doctor or the local health department. Suggest placing the air cleaner in a central location like the library or office.
Child refuses to wear a mask. Explain why it’s important, practice at home, and choose a mask with a fun design. For young children, this may not be feasible; rely on staying indoors.
Air quality is worse indoors than outdoors. This can happen if you have a gas stove or if smoke is seeping in. Seal gaps better, avoid indoor burning, and run the air cleaner on high.
Your child has asthma and symptoms worsen. Follow the asthma action plan. If symptoms are severe, seek medical care immediately. Do not wait.
Power outage during a smoke event. If you have a generator, never run it indoors. Use battery-powered fans or go to a public building with clean air, like a library or mall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI) and what numbers matter?

The AQI is a scale from 0 to 500. Under 50 is good; 51-100 is moderate; 101-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151-200 is unhealthy for everyone; 201+ is very unhealthy to hazardous. For children, keep them indoors when AQI is above 100.

Can I use a regular fan to blow smoke out?

No. A regular fan just circulates air; it doesn’t filter out particles. It can actually make things worse by stirring up dust. Use a fan only with a HEPA filter attached.

Do I need to buy a special air purifier?

Any portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter works. You can also make a DIY box fan filter for about $30. Just make sure it’s placed safely and not a tripping hazard.

Is it safe for my child to wear a mask at school?

For children over 2, an N95 or KN95 mask can reduce exposure if worn correctly. But masks are not recommended for children under 2. Also, masks are not a substitute for staying indoors when air quality is very poor.

What should I do if my child has asthma and the air is smoky?

Follow your child’s asthma action plan. Keep rescue inhalers at school and home. Keep windows closed, run air cleaners, and consider keeping your child home from school if AQI is above 150.

Can I open windows at night when it’s cooler?

Only if the outdoor air quality has improved. Check the AQI before opening. If it’s still smoky, keep windows closed and use air conditioning on recirculate.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.