Life with Chronic Conditions: How to Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke

This past week, much of the east coast and other parts of the country were blanketed in smoke from the wildfires in Canada. New York City and Washington had the worse air quality in the world as smoke particulate made it challenging for many.

 Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials. It contains fine particulates, also known as PM2.5, which are lightweight and tiny,  and can go deep into your lungs and bloodstream, causing inflammation, heart attacks, strokes, asthma and other breathing issues. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including: coughing, trouble breathing; wheezing and shortness of breath; stinging eyes; scratchy throat; runny nose; irritated sinuses; chest pain; headaches; an asthma attack; tiredness; and fast heartbeat.

 

Those most at risk from the smoke are the elderly, children and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions.

 

Note: Watching for smoke or smelling the air is not a good indication of whether or not these particles are present and affecting you. The micromillimeter-sized particles can’t always be seen or smelled. I put that in as my husband kept insisting that he didn’t smell anything so it couldn’t be a problem. 

 

Steps to Take During an Air Quality Alert 

Check your local weather at least daily for Air Quality alerts. Smart phone weather forecasts will provide this information, so it’s easy to use the App that comes with your phone to check regularly. Some times when a “controlled burn” is taking place, air quality alerts may not be noted. Therefore if you notice a haze, the sky looks an unusual color or the air smells like campfire, stay indoors. 

 

Understand the Air Quality Index (AQI): The higher the AQI number, the greater the level of air pollution and potential for health concerns. This AQI chart can be a handy way of judging risk

 

Talk to your medical provider about medications, particularly if you have asthma, heart or lung disease or any condition that would make you more vulnerable during an air quality alert. If you start feeling sick during an alert, call your provider. 

 

Reduce exposure indoors: During alerts, stay indoors use 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. You can also make a DIY box fan air filter for wildfire smoke. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed. 

 

Reduce Exposure While Driving: Press the recirculate button so your car won't be pulling air from outside but just recirculating the air that's already in the car.

 

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.

 

An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection. Note that “dust”  masks or bandannas do not provide protection. We learned a lot about masks during Covid, so put that knowledge to good use and use an N95 or KN95.