Have you already had your fill of smoke for the season? Working our way back from a pandemic, would it have been too much to ask for Mother Nature to go ahead and give us a pass on the smoke this summer? Not only did we get it, but we got it pretty early in the season. Hopefully it won't get TOO bad - I'm not wanting to be cooped up indoors with smoke warnings after spending much of last summer indoors because of COVID.

Everybody always says laziness won't pay off. But I went golfing this week with some friends and they wanted to walk the course - I'm pretty sure the extra effort is what got me feeling some effects of the smoke. I'm always in favor of a cart, but I went along and walked with the group on the somewhat smoky day. After I returned home I had a dry throat and a coughing fit that made me chug a glass of water for relief. I'm just saying.....If we could have been lazy and paid for a cart - there might not have been a problem.

Missoula is entering Phase II of fire restrictions tomorrow (7/17.) And we've seen a few air quality alerts in the last week because Montana literally has some of the worst air quality on the planet right now. It looks like we'll plan on seeing some smoke for the immediate future as the forecast says winds will blow smoke in and high pressure will lock it in.

Here are some ways that you can protect yourself from this harmful air quality, according to a KPAX article:

* Limit the time you're outside.
* Head indoors when you can.
* Close windows if it’s not too hot.
* Use an air cleaner.
* Upgraded your furnace filter.
* Have medically managed asthma? Keep your rescue inhaler on hand.
* Avoid adding particulate matter to your home - don’t burn candles, cigarettes, or incense, for example.

And I'll go ahead and throw one more item on the list......talk your friends into golfing with a cart!

Stay safe out there and limit your exposure to the smoke!

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