Don’t let wildfire smoke affect your health. It is recommended to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities as much as possible. Children, older adults, pregnant women, smokers, asthmatic, and people with lung or heart disease will be the most affected.
Effects of breathing Wildfire Smoke
- Coughing, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes and runny nose.
- People who have heart disease might experience chest pain, rapid heartbeat,
shortness of breath and fatigue. - Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory
conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
Keep windows and doors closed and avoid activities that would increase air pollution inside the home, such as burning candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves. According to the CDC, “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.”
If you have to drive, keep your windows up. Close the car cabin’s intake when driving in smoky areas and recirculate the air inside the car while driving.