A study from Stanford University suggests that breathing in excessive amounts of wildfire smoke could be equivalent to smoking nearly half a pack of cigarettes. 

Smoking one cigarette every 24 hours is the equivalent to 20 Air Quality Points on AirNow.Gov's Air Quality Index Scale.

Erie's Air Quality Index score is expected to reach up to 150 A.Q.I. points at it's peak, meaning breathing in that level of wildfire smoke would be equal to smoking 7.5 cigarettes within 24 hours. 

That much smoke could damage the lungs of the elderly, those with preexisting lung conditions, and children. 

Schools have begun taking action, with Millcreek Township School District announcing they will "adjust planned activities on June 8th accordingly," according to a news release sent earlier today. 

"It is a little bit concerning," said Robert Collins Jr., a firefighter and father to two young boys.

"You hope that the wind will help push the smoke further east out of this direction, out of this area. But you know, limiting the children['s time outside] for the time being. It's one of those things where you as a parent have to make that choice. Do you want to keep playing outside with the children? Of course, do what's best for them, what you think is best."

Other schools are figuring out how to balance young children's outside play with keeping their lungs healthy. 

"We do know that there are a lot of benefits of outside play," said Arlene McMahon, owner and director of Little Acorns Learning Center, a local pre-school. "Moving their bodies and everything is very important to them. Yet we also want to be cognizant of the fact that the air quality could be potentially an issue."

Experts recommend staying indoors, and using a Covid-style mask if you are susceptible to the wildfire smoke, or live in an area where the smoke can affect your health. 

They also recommend staying inside when possible.

"Staying indoors with the window closed is about the best starting step you can make," said Eric Schiff, a physics professor at Syracuse University, who studies how air particles can enter your home.

"If you have central air type conditioning, you can just run it in fan mode and that'll run your air through whatever filters you've got. If you if those filters are anti-allergen filters, they will block quite a few of the particles."

"Covid-style masks are an excellent protection, 10 times improvement over no mask," said Schiff.