Coping With Poor Air Quality From Forest Fires

This summer marks another record breaking year for forest fires and all of this smoke is not only hard on the environment but also on our health. It isn't just inconvenient but can cause all kinds of health problems, whether your healthy, have allergies, lung, or heart problems.
The gasses and fine particulate matter can lead to compromised immune defense in the lungs.
This of course can then lead to increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial respiratory infections. These small particles can embed themselves deep in the lungs and can remain there for years.
Common symptoms for most people can include things like irritated eyes and throat, being stuffed up and having a runny nose, headaches, and worsening of allergy symptoms.
Those with lung issues like COPD or Asthma can experience (on top of the symptoms that have already been listed) things like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and increased mucus production.

And, please don't forget about the special pets and animals in your life, they have to breath in the smokey air too.  Keep your dogs and cats indoors as much as possible, only allowing them outside for short bathroom breaks.
For more information on animals (including farm animals) and how to help them through the smoke from wild fires check out avma.org


    The Lung Association* makes some of the following recommendation for everyone when dealing with smoke from forest fires:

• Remain indoors with doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut and avoid any kind of exercise outside.
• If you have an air conditioner set it on the re-circulation setting to avoid bringing in the smoke.
• Children, pregnant women and older adults are more susceptible to the smoke. (In children its because their systems are still developing.)
• If you're driving close the windows and vents and use the recirculate setting or air conditioning on the same recirculating setting.
• If you're on any medications make sure they are up to date and if you have any lung issues make sure you have your rescue inhaler with you at all times.
• Pay attention to your local air quality reports.
• If you want to use a mask choose a better quality face mask (labelled N95) that traps the larger particles that irritate throat and nose. This type of mask is better than your regular dust mask but it wont offer 100% protection from all the tiny particles. ( For an even better option, our Family Doctor recommended a N99 mask.)

So what's the difference between N95 and N99 mask?  

Well basically the higher the number the better. The N95 filters 95% of particulate matter while the N99 filters 99%. 

Island Health** also makes the following suggestions:

• Stay cool and drink plenty of liquids.
• Indoor air qualtiy can be better but using a Hepa air filters can further help reduce poor indoor air quality.
• Some shopping malls, large buildings and community centers not only provide relief from the smoke and hot weather but actually provide filtered air. 

Global News BC had a great article you might also find interesting, " Breathing easy: How to avoid the long-term health consequences of B.C. wildfire smoke".global news.ca 

Sources:
*   sk.lung.ca/protect-your-lungs/air-quality/forest-fires-and-lung-health-fact-sheet
**  viha.ca/mho/public_health_alerts/wildfires-smoke.htm
health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/emu/fire_mn.aspx
lghealth.ca
airnow.gov
guidingtech.com