Did you know about smoke from fires?
Outdoor smoke contains very small particles and gases, including carbon monoxide. These particles can get into your eyes and lungs where they can cause health problems.
What health problems do smoke cause?
Outdoor smoke contains very small particles and gases, including carbon monoxide. These particles can get into your eyes and lungs where they can cause health problems.
What health problems do smoke cause?
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation (burning eyes and runny nose).
- Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and headaches.
- Aggravation of existing lung, heart and circulatory conditions, including asthma and angina.
- Inhaling smoke is not good for anyone, even healthy people. People most likely to have health problems from breathing smoke include:
- People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema.
- People with respiratory infections, such as cold or flu.
- People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and angina.
- People with a prior history of heart attack or stroke.
- Infants and children because their lungs and airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.
- Older adults over age 65. Adults age 65 and older may have unrecognized heart or lung disease.
- Smokers already have lower lung function or lung disease, and breathing smoke can make their conditions worse.
- < >Check local air quality reports and listen to news or health warnings for your community.
- Avoid physical exertion outdoors if smoke is in the air.
- If you have asthma or other lung diseases, make sure you follow your doctor's directions about taking your medicines and follow your asthma management plan. Call your health care provider if your symptoms worsen.
- Stay indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible. Take the following steps when indoors:
- Keep windows and doors closed. If there is no air conditioning and it is too hot to keep windows and doors closed, consider leaving the area.
- Run an air conditioner (if you have one), set it to re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Make sure to change the filter regularly.
- Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce indoor air pollution. A HEPA filter may reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air. A HEPA filter with charcoal will help remove some of the gases from the smoke.
- Don’t add to indoor pollution. Don’t use candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Don’t vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Don’t smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
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Whether grandparents live nearby or you're planning to visit, don't forget to make safety a priority. Grandparents may not be accustomed to having young kids in the house and the presence of household dangers could end up with trips to the emergency room.
