How to Stay Safe From Wildfire Smoke

This week, many people who live in the U.S. have woken up to hazy skies. Wildfire smoke from Eastern Canada continues to trail down the East Coast and as far west as Minnesota. State and local authorities have issued air-quality warnings throughout the affected regions, and it could be days before they’re lifted. Wildfire pollution may be a new threat to some of these regions, but with global temperatures climbing, it could be more common in the future. Here’s what to know about staying safe until the smoke clears. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Adjust your day if you’re most at risk Because of high concentrations of tiny, difficult-to-filter particles—known as PM2.5—in wildfire plumes, exposure to this type of smoke can be harmful to anyone. Poor air quality is particularly dangerous to those with chronic lung diseases, asthma, and allergies, as well as children, elderly people, and pregnant women. People in these categories should expect that any existing respiratory symptoms they have will get worse within a day of limited exposure to highly polluted outdoor air, says Dr. Aida Capo, a pulmonologist at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. After just a couple of days of exposure, “people who have cardiovascular disease can feel worsening of their symptoms as well,” she says. Read More: What Wildfire Smoke Does to the Human Body Anyone who falls into these categories should take safety precautions most seriously,...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized healthscienceclimate Public Health Source Type: news