5 ways to protect yourself against wildfire smoke
Smoke from multiple wildfires burning throughout Australia made Sydney's Dec. 5 sunset a little unsettling.
Dry conditions in many regions can increase the risk of wildfires that threaten homes, families, and businesses. The demand for housing has pushed developments closer to wilderness areas where many wildfires start. By staying alert for wildfire notifications and taking action, you can protect yourself and others from the hazards of wildfire smoke.
Whether a wildfire burns near your area or miles away, it can produce an enormous amount of smoke that can reach communities. The smoke from a wildfire contains a mixture of fine particles and gases from burning plant and tree materials. This smoke can irritate your respiratory system, hurt your eyes, and worsen chronic lung and heart conditions.
Photo by Tobias Seidl
Who faces the greatest risk of harm from wildfire smoke?
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Older adults and the elderly tend to be more impacted by smoke. This can be a result of an increased risk of lung and heart conditions.
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People with lung or heart conditions, including asthma. They are at a higher risk from smoke.
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Young children can be negatively affected by wildfire smoke. A child’s airways are still developing. As such, they breathe in more smoke in relation to the bodyweight than an adult will. In addition, children tend to spend more time outdoors as they play.
Take these Steps to Decrease the Hazards of Wildfire Smoke
The best way to decrease the harm from wildfire smoke is to help prevent them from starting. If you are out camping in the wilderness, prepare, maintain, and extinguish your campfires carefully. Your local fire department or forest ranger should be able to provide you with those instructions and information about whether the weather is safe enough for a campfire.
Here are five tips for protecting yourself against wildfire smoke.
1. Be Prepared for Wildfires
Stay on top of local air quality reports. Watch or listen to the news for health warnings regarding wildfire smoke. Check to determine if you have community resources that follow reports about the EPA’s Air Quality Index. Stay on top of public health messages for additional safety measures. You will find additional information regarding visibility from local visibility guides. Many communities monitor the amount of particulates in the air. These communities frequently have established guidelines to rank the levels of particulates.
3. Avoid Activity that May Increase the Indoor Pollution
If there is a nearby wildfire that is sending smoke your way, this is not the time to burn fireplaces, candles, or gas stoves. These will increase your indoor pollution. You can skip vacuuming for a little while, as well. This stirs up particles that already exist inside your home and contributes to indoor pollution. If you smoke cigarettes, this is likely a time to set them aside temporarily.
Photo by Anke Sundermeier
2. When You are Advised to Stay Indoors, Keep the Indoor Air Clean
This means keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible. You may run your air conditioner. However, close the fresh-air intake and install a clean filter if possible to prevent wildfire smoke from entering your home. If you don’t have an air conditioner or the temperature is too hot, seek a designated evacuation center or shelter.
4. Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
If you have a lung condition like asthma or a heart condition, follow your healthcare provider’s advice regarding medications. You can inquire in advance about a respiratory management plan to be prepared. You may want to consider an evacuation plan if you experience trouble breathing. Contact your healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.
Dust masks typically do not offer protection against wildfire smoke. You will find these paper masks at hardware stores. They are designed to protect against large particles like sawdust. They do not offer protection from the smaller particulates found in smoke from a wildfire.
If your health condition warrants it, you may want to keep a respirator on hand to use if your area has a large amount of wildfire smoke. You may also want to consider evacuating to another area away from the smoke. Your local officials should have instructions on where and when to evacuate. Take along some essential items and follow the pre-designated route.
5. Protect Yourself During Clean Up
Cleaning up after a wildfire can expose you to ash and other hazardous byproducts of the wildfire. They may irritate your skin, eyes, or nose and cause coughing or other health issues.
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