FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) – The City of Flagstaff has issued a statement detailing the dangers of inhaling smoke from wildfires. The body of that release is below:
June 21, 2010
Wildfire Smoke – Ways to Protect Your Family’s Health
Area forecasts call for southwest winds at 15 to 20 mph and gust up to 30 mph, carrying smoke in a northeasterly direction.
Residents can expect smoke from the Schultz fire to be heavy throughout the day. Smoke will settle into neighborhoods overnight, including areas outside the immediate evacuation areas. Anyone who can taste or smell smoke or is experiencing limited visibility due to smoke should curtail outdoor activity. People with heart disease, lung disease or asthma should avoid outdoors entirely, as should children and the elderly. If you are in the areas with heavy smoke and have not been instructed to evacuate, you are advised to remain indoors or to leave the area if you experience breathing difficulties. Please consult your healthcare provider with health concerns.
Smoke is primarily made up of small particles, gases, and water vapor, with trace amounts of hazardous air pollutants. Most harmful are the particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (70 micrometers is the diameter of a human hair). If these particles are inhaled deeply into the lungs, they can damage lung tissue and cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Many factors play into a person’s susceptibility to smoke. These factors include the level, extent, and duration of exposure, age, and individual susceptibility. Anyone who can see, taste or smell smoke should curtail outdoor activity, officials warned. But people with heart disease, lung disease or asthma should avoid the outdoors entirely, as should children and the elderly.
Symptoms from short-term smoke exposure range from scratchy throat, cough, irritated sinuses, headaches, runny nose, and stinging eyes to more serious reactions among persons with asthma, emphysema, congestive heart disease, and other existing medical conditions. Older adults and children are also high-risk groups. When smoke levels are dangerously high, the appropriate protective measures should be followed.
Ways to Protect Your Family’s Health
Use visibility guides. Because smoke is highly visible, it is possible to visually estimate smoke levels and estimate potential health impacts. Generally, the worse the visibility is, the worse the smoke is.
Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside, it is probably not a good time for outdoor activities. And it’s probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors.
If you feel ill as a result of wildfire smoke, regardless of the Air Quality Index (AQI) level, take necessary precautions: stay indoors, use a HEPA filter, and limit your activities. Contact your health care provider for additional instructions.
Pay attention to local air quality reports. Stay alert to any news coverage or health warnings related to smoke. In the event of dangerous smoke levels, the Local Health and Emergency Authorities will issue instructions.
If you are advised to stay indoors, keep your windows and doors closed. Make sure air conditioning units have a clean filter in the air intakes. Devices with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters can reduce the indoor pollution.
Do not add to indoor air pollution. Don’t use anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves, or even candles. Don’t vacuum; that stirs up particles already inside your home. Don’t smoke; that puts even more pollution in your lungs, and in the lungs of people around you.
Dust masks aren’t enough! Common masks will not protect your lungs from small particles in smoke. HEPA masks may filter out the small particles but are not suitable for people with lung diseases. Those with lung diseases should follow your respiratory management plan. Call your doctor if symptoms worsen.
Please consult the Coconino County Health Department website at http://www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx?id=6564 regarding potential hazards dealing with smoke inhalation. Visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website at http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/wildfire.htm for additional information regarding the dangers of wildfire and prescribed burn smoke and wildfire preparedness.
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