West Kelowna seniors are invited to build air cleaners and prepare for wildfire season at a free workshop.

It91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a partnership with United Way British Columbia, the City of West Kelowna, Interior Health, and Simon Fraser University (SFU). 

The do-it-yourself (DIY) workshop will highlight information on emergency preparedness, specifically for seniors.

"Research shows that older adults are one of the highest risk groups for health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke because of their higher prevalence of pre-existing lung and heart issues, as well as lower defence mechanisms which decline with age," said Naomi Woodland, with United Way BC.

The DIY design is a 20-by-20 filter on a box fan, creating a shroud that focuses air into the filter so it becomes a cleaning device, as opposed to a cooling device.

The design drew worldwide attention and became popular in the Central Okanagan during the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire.

"Public health recommends that people go inside on smoky days, but smoke can also be a problem indoors, particularly if people need to keep windows open to stay cool," said Anne-Marie Nicol, Associate Professor at SFU's Faculty of Health Sciences. 

The first session is on Tuesday, July 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Okanagan Regional Library branch in West Kelowna City Hall (3731 Old Okanagan Highway). 

Registration is required and can be completed by clicking . Space is limited.