 Background posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- Children are especially at risk for health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke and ash, mostly because their lungs are still growing.
- Wildfire concerns include the fire itself, the smoke and ash, and the chemicals from
materials that have burned, such as furniture.
- Smoke can travel hundreds of miles from the source of a fire. Pay attention to local air
quality reports during fire season, even if no fire is nearby.
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Health Effects from Wildfire Smoke and Ash posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- Children who breathe in wildfire smoke and ash can have chest pain and tightness; trouble breathing; wheezing; coughing; nose, throat, and eye burning; dizziness; or other symptoms.
- Children with asthma, allergies, or chronic health issues may have more trouble breathing when smoke or ash is present.
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Preparing for Wildfires posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- Pay attention to local air quality reports. Stay alert to smoke-related news coverage and public health advisories.
- Look up your local Air Quality Index (AQI) on the AirNow (www.airnow.gov) web site.
- If Enviroflash is available for your area, sign up for air quality alerts. (http://www.enviroflash.info/).
- Create a "clean room" in your home. Choose a room with few windows and doors. Buy a portable air cleaner you can use in this room. Never use an ozone-generating air cleaner.
- Stock up on food, medicine and child care supplies before the threat of a wildfire.
- Remember that you may need to leave your home. Plan for it and prepare your children.
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During Wildfires posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- Continue to listen to local reports and public health warnings.
- Keep children indoors with the doors and windows closed. Use your “clean room”. If you have an air conditioner, run it with the freshair intake closed to keep outdoor smoke from getting indoors. Use your portable air cleaner as well. Reduce health risks by avoiding strenuous activities.
- Keep the indoor air as clean as possible. Do not smoke. Do not use gas, propane, or woodburning stoves, fireplaces, or candles. Never use ozone-generating air cleaners. Never use natural gas or gasoline-powered generators indoors. Do not use spray cans. Do not fry or broil meat. Do not vacuum. All of these can lead to poor air quality.
- A good time to open windows to air out the house and clean away dust indoors is once air quality improves (check AirNow for updates).
- Use common sense to guide your child's activity. If it looks or smells smoky outside, if local air quality is reported as poor, or if local officials are giving health warnings, wait until air quality improves before your family is active outdoors.
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Special Considerations posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- If your child has any problem breathing, is very sleepy, refuses food and water, or other health concerns, reduce his/her exposure to smoke and seek medical help right away.
- If your child has asthma, allergies, or a chronic health condition, he/she is at high risk from health effects related to wildfire smoke and ash. Seek medical advice as needed. For children with asthma, follow the asthma action plan.
- Do not rely on masks for protection from smoke. Paint, dust and surgical masks, even N95 masks, are not made to fit children and will not protect children from breathing wildfire smoke. Humidifiers or breathing through a wet washcloth do not prevent breathing in smoke.
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Evacuation posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- Seek shelter in another place (e.g., public air shelter) if your family does not have an air conditioner OR air cleaner OR if it is too warm in your home to stay inside with the windows closed. Plan to take the quickest route to the shelter to limit exposure to smoke.
- Bring all medication (taken by each family member) with you.
- Reduce smoke in your vehicle by closing the windows and vents and operating the air conditioning with the fresh intake closed to keep outdoor smoke from getting into car. Never leave children in a car or truck alone.
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After a Wildfire posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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- Make sure ash and debris have been removed before bringing your child back to home or school.
- Children should not be doing any cleanup work. Fires may deposit large amounts of ash and dust with harmful chemicals. Avoid bringing polluted ash and dust back to areas used by children (such as a home or car). Remove shoes at the doorway, wash clothing separately, and change out of clothing before you have contact with your children.
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More Information posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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For more information:
Get air quality information: Check the airnow.gov website, or your state air quality agency’s website.
Air Quality Flag Program: This visual tool alerts schools and organizations and their communities to the local air quality forecast. https://airnow.gov/flag
Contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for emergency concerns regarding ingestion or exposure to hazards.
Contact your Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit with children’s environmental health questions: www.pehsu.net |
Download PDF Version posted on Oct 31, 2019 |
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