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When outside, protect yourself from the fine, glassy particles of volcanic ash.

·    Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

·    If needed use goggles to protect your eyes.

·    Wear eyeglasses instead of contact lenses.

·    Use a dust mask or hold a damp cloth over 
   your face to help breathing to protect yourself.

·    Keep car or truck engines off.  

Close doors, windows, and dampers. Cover or 
seal places where ash can infiltrate your house. 

Place damp towels at door thresholds and other draft sources. Tape drafty windows. 

Put stoppers in the tops of your drainpipes. 

Help your neighbors who may require special assistance such as infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. 

Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care 
for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.

Please contact the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter for more information about developing a plan, purchasing disaster supplies, 
or first aid and CPR training.

For Your Home

• Keep children and pets indoors.

• Minimize travel — ash may be harmful to  you and your vehicle.

• Frequently change oil and air filters in your au to mobile

• Use a battery-operated radio to receive information.

• Keep roofs free of ash in excess of 4 inches.

• Remove outdoor clothing before entering a building.

• If ash is in the water, let it settle before drinking.

• Wash vegetables from the garden before eating.

• Protect dust-sensitive electronics.


For Your Pets

·    Keep pets indoors. If pets go out, brush or vacuum them to remove ash before 
letting them indoors.

·    Make sure lives to ck have clean food and water.

·    Discourage active play in dusty settings.

For Your Vehicle

·    If possible, do not drive and avoid driving in heavy ashfall. Ash is harmful to vehicles. 
Driving will stir up volcanic ash that can clog engines and stall vehicles. Moving parts 
can be damaged from abrasion, including bearings, brakes, and transmissions.

·    If you must drive, drive slowly, use headlights, and use ample windshield washer fluid.

·    Change oil, oil filters, and air filters frequently (every 50 to 100 miles in heavy dust, 
i.e., less than 50 feet visibility; every 500 to 1,000 miles in light dust).

·    Do not drive without an air filter. If you cannot change the air filter, clean it by blowing 
air through from the inside out.

·    If car stalls or brakes fail, push car to the side of the road to avoid collisions. Stay with 
your car.