6 Tips to Reduce Wildfire Smoke Exposure
It seems like every summer now has a smoke/wildfire season, and it seems that this will only continue as the years go on. Wildfire smoke is ABSOLUTELY a health hazard and it is one that we can do our best to avoid.
Why is wildfire smoke bad? Wildfire smoke contains microscopic soot (also called fine particular matter), which can be inhaled into your lungs and causes inflammation and irritation. This is why you might get a sore throat, cough, have irritated eyes, or a runny nose after spending time outdoors on a smoky day. This has both short-term and long-term negative health effects. Particulate matter pollution has been associated with asthma attacks, heart attacks, and even early death (as well as worsening or preexisting conditions like asthma, heart disease).
#1 tip during wildfire season - check the air quality before you head outside! I use an app called “AirVisual” but you can also check air quality on The Weather Network. If air quality is good (green) or moderate (yellow), I go outside. If unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange), my 3 year old and I go outside only for short amounts of time - about 30 minutes or less (this would also be true for pregnant people, people with heart or lung disease, or older adults). If unhealthy for all (red, purple, or burgundy), we stay inside as much as possible.
Okay, so you have checked the air quality, but you still want to know what else you can do on those smoky summer days? You’re in the right place.
Use a portable HEPA filter in the room in your home that you spend the most time in. For most of us, this is our bedrooms. Most portable HEPA filters are only rated to clean a small room - it will not work for your whole home. Close the door to the room containing the HEPA filter to create a “clean room”. DO NOT use an air filter that generates ozone as this will only create more pollution for you.
Take it easy on smoky days - the more you exert yourself, the harder you breathe, the more smoke you inhale. Alternative: bring your exercise indoors on those unhealthy air quality days.
Keep windows in your home closed on smoky days.
Keep windows in your car closed an run A/C or heat or “recirculate” mode.
Buy a few more houseplants and plant more trees. Okay, I don’t know the numbers on how much this would actually reduce smoke exposure, but you can’t go wrong with a few more house plants and a few more outdoor trees.