Wildfire Impact on Air Quality and Health

• People who have lung disease of any kind, whether that's asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or any other lung disease, or heart disease are most affected.
• Depending on how bad the air quality is, healthy individuals may also want to consider modifying their outdoor activity to limit their exposure to smoke and the fine particles in it.
• All persons are encouraged to limit their exposure to smoke and to protect their health by staying indoors with windows and doors closed and limiting outdoor activity when air quality is poor.

• Fine particles can be inhaled deeply into the lungs; exposure to the smallest particles can affect the lungs and heart and can cause coughing, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
• Particle pollution may also affect the body's ability remove foreign materials from the lungs, such as pollen and bacteria.
• Exposure to fine particles present in smoke, even short-term for several days, can aggravate pre-existing heart and lung disease.
• Exposure to fine particles can also affect healthy people, causing respiratory symptoms and reductions in lung function.

The number one thing is to reduce smoke exposure.
 

• Avoid or limit outside activity until air quality improves.
   
• If outside, avoid strenuous activity. You'll inhale less smoke.
   
• If you have underlying health conditions affecting your lungs, stay indoors with doors and windows closed, reduce activity, and use HEPA air cleaners indoors to reduce smoke exposure.
   
• Make sure you have enough food and medication on hand to last several days. Get help from friends and family if you need help restocking these important supplies and you have asthma or another health condition affecting your lungs.
   
• If you have a central air conditioning system or a room unit, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke.
  • Ask an air conditioning professional what type of high efficiency filter your air conditioner can accept.
     
• Seek shelter elsewhere if you don't have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with windows closed.

If you are short of breath or having symptoms, seek care relatively quickly because smoke can trigger asthma and COPD and those chronic lung conditions.

To reduce your risk of health problems: 

• Have enough medication and food (enough for more than 5 days) on hand.
• Follow your health care provider's advice about what to do if you have heart or lung disease.
• If you have asthma, follow your asthma management plan.
• If you feel sick, reduce your exposure to smoke and contact your health care provider.
• Pay attention to public service announcements, health advisories, and air quality advisories

SOURCE: https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-07/reduce-your-smoke-exposure.pdf 

• The blue surgical type masks, dust masks and bandanas are not going to be effective against smoke.
   
• Respirator masks can help reduce exposure to smoke particles. However, they should only be used after first taking steps to reduce your exposure to smoke, including staying indoors with doors and windows closed, reducing activity, and using HEPA air cleaners indoors to reduce overall smoke exposure.
   
• For adults, NIOSH N95 or P100 masks, when worn correctly, have been shown to filter particles and improve the quality of the air being inhaled. They don't offer complete protection.
   
• People with respiratory or heart conditions should consult with their health care professional prior to wearing a respirator mask.
   
• Effective masks are labelled NIOSH N95 or P100 and must fit properly or they are ineffective.
   
• For information on using masks for wildfire smoke see:
  https://airnow.gov/publications/fire-mask-respirator-and-palm-cards-in-seven­languages/infographic-how-to-use-a-respirator/ 

Visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/ 

• Create a "clean room" in your home. 
  • Choose a room with no fireplace and few windows and doors, such as a bedroom. 
  • Use a portable air cleaner in the room and stay there.
• If you still have poor indoor air quality and if your home gets too warm, seek shelter elsewhere.