Individuals living with chronic lung disease are particularly sensitive to poor air quality. With the massive wildfires that are raging in the western United States causing serious air-quality issues, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) wants you to know how to protect yourself. According to a press release from the CDC, “Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. This smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.”
According to the CDC, people with heart and lung disease, older adults, and young children are most at risk from the poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke. The CDC lists several steps that you can take to limit your risk from wildfire smoke. They include:
- Check local air quality reports
- Consult local visibility guides
- Keep indoor air as clean as possible
- Avoid activities that increase indoor air pollution
- Prevent wildfires from happening
- Follow the advice of your doctor or other healthcare provider
- Do not rely on dust masks for protection
- Evacuate from the path of a wildfire
- Protect yourself cleaning up after a fire
Read the CDC press release here: Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke