Doctor Urges Public to Limit Outdoor Activities During Wildfire Smoke

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - People in areas affected by forest and land fire smoke are urged to reduce outdoor activities to limit exposure to air pollution. The measure is considered an important step to protect respiratory health during periods of heavy smoke or haze.

Primary Care Family Medicine Specialist, dr. Aghnaa Gayatri, said reducing exposure to outdoor air is the most effective measure, particularly when air quality deteriorates due to wildfire smoke.

“The most effective thing is reducing unnecessary outdoor activities,” Aghnaa said during VOI Talk with RRI Voice of Indonesia on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

Aghnaa advised people who have the option to work or exercise indoors to limit outdoor activities when air quality is unhealthy. She also encouraged the public to monitor local air quality information to assess pollution levels before going outside.

She noted that clear skies do not necessarily mean that the air is safe to breathe. Pollutants can remain in the air even when smoke or haze is not visible to the naked eye.

“During these wildfires, if you must go outdoors, we need to use appropriate respiratory protection,” she conveyed.

If outdoor activities are unavoidable, Aghnaa recommends using a properly fitted N95 or KN95 particulate respirator. Such respirators can substantially reduce the inhalation of fine particles compared with loose surgical or cloth masks.

However, she stressed that masks do not provide complete protection against all components of wildfire smoke, as they cannot eliminate exposure to gases such as carbon monoxide. Therefore, avoiding or reducing outdoor activities remains the primary measure to protect health when air quality is affected by wildfire smoke.