Wildfire smoke is unsettling and dangerous in many aspects, but can it harm you and make you sick? The answer is yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no matter how healthy you are, breathing in wildfire smoke can cause health issues like:
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing normally
- Stinging eyes
- Runny nose
- Scratchy throat
- Shortness of breath
The elderly, children, pregnant women and people with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they were to breathe in wildfire smoke.
Here Are Eight Tips From The CDC To Protect Yourself From Breathing Wildfire Smoke:
- Pay attention to local air quality reports and the US Air Quality Index External.
- When a wildfire occurs in your area, watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Pay attention to public health messages and avoid spending time outdoors.
- Pay attention to visibility guides if they are available. Although not every community measures the amount of particles in the air, some communities in the western United States have guidelines to help people estimate air quality based on how far they can see.
- If you are told to stay indoors, stay indoors and keep your indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is very hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed.
- Use an air filter. Use a freestanding indoor air filter with particle removal to help protect people with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions and the elderly and children from the effects of wildfire smoke. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on filter replacement and where to place the device.
- Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles and fireplaces. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Do not smoke tobacco or other products, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
- Follow your doctor’s advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease or cardiovascular disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
- Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection. If you decide to keep a mask on hand, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- Avoid smoke exposure during outdoor recreation. Wildfires and prescribed burns — fires that are set on purpose to manage land — can create smoky conditions. Before you travel to a park or forest, check to see if any wildfires are happening or if any prescribed burns are planned.
Forest fires are devastating to communities, wildlife, business and homeowners. Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best with this extensive checklist. If you have questions about protecting yourself from wildfire smoke, call us today at (360)414-8754!