This
summer has been especially hot and dry, which creates an ideal environment for wildfires to
ignite. They’ve been flaring up across the country and are a serious threat to
people’s health and wellbeing. We all know wildfires can threaten wildlife,
property, and our lives, but the smoke produced by these fires is just as
devastating.
Smoke
from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and
other materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system,
and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. What’s worse is that smoke from
wildfires can travel long distances. So even if the fire is burning several
counties over, the residual smoke can still threaten your health.
Prevent and Protect
Here
are some simple tips to stay healthy if a wildfire threatens your area:
Prevent wildfires from starting. Of course the easiest way
to protect your health is to help prevent a fire from ever starting. Check with
your local fire department to be sure the weather is safe enough for burning
before you light your match. Prepare, maintain, and extinguish campfires safely
.
Comply with local regulations if you plan to burn trash or debris
.
Keep indoor air as clean as possible if
you are advised to stay indoors. Keep windows and doors closed. 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. If you don’t have an
air conditioner and it’s too warm to stay inside with the windows close, seek
shelter in a designated evacuation center or away from the affected area.
Check
air quality reports at airnow.gov
Check local air quality reports. Listen
and watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Find out if your
community provides reports about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index
(AQI). In addition, pay attention to public health messages about taking safety
precautions, such as evacuation or sheltering in place.
Follow the advice of your doctor or other healthcare
provider
about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma
or other lung disease. Consider evacuating the area if you are having trouble
breathing. Call your physician for further advice if your symptoms worsen.
Do not rely on dust masks for protection.
Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed
to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your
lungs from the small particles found in wildfire smoke.
Evacuation from the path of wildfires.
Listen to the news to learn about current evacuation orders. Follow the
instructions of local officials about when and where to evacuate. Take only
essential items with you. Follow designated evacuation routes – others may be
blocked–and expect heavy traffic. To learn how to make an evacuation plan and
emergency supply kit click here.
