Wildfire disasters are common on the West Coast, but 2023 has the entire country talking about them as states that rarely experience them are under air quality alerts due to smoke flowing in from the north. The map featured on AirNow.gov illustrates the breadth of the smoke’s coverage as it bears down on the East Coast and parts of the Midwest, including much of New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and states as far south as Alabama and Georgia.
Wildfires blazing through Canada have burned over 25 million acres of land, and there’s no end in sight. Canada isn’t alone, though, as U.S. states California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon have lost over 777,000 acres due to wildfires in the first half of this year alone. While the fires in Canada appear somewhat worse this year, they aren’t uncommon. This chart from the CWFIS (Canadian Wildfire Information System) shows that there have been several years previously where the fires burned significantly more land than has been lost so far this year. However, this year’s weather conditions are creating a perfect storm of wildfire risk, burn conditions, and heavy, low-lying smoke.
Regardless of the wildfire’s spread, the nation will remain trapped under the bellowing smoke for some time, affecting health and wellness from coast to coast.
What are the health risks posed by the smoke?
The Air Quality Index rating system uses a color-coded risk indication classification structure.
Green: Air quality is good for all populations
Yellow: Air quality may pose a risk for those in sensitive categories, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions
Orange: Those in sensitive categories, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions, may experience health effects related to air quality. Others may be affected depending on their health and level of exposure
Red: Air quality is poor and may cause health effects even in healthy adults. Air quality poses a serious risk for those in sensitive categories, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions
Purple: Air quality is very poor and poses a serious risk for everyone
Maroon: Emergency conditions exist. Air quality is extremely poor, and anyone exposed will be affected
Large portions of the East and West Coast are seeing yellow to red level warnings, meaning that the air quality can potentially cause dangerous health events, even in otherwise healthy people.
Ignoring the air quality index warnings and spending time in the smoke-filled outdoors can lead to immediate symptoms such as:
- Itchy eyes
- Burning in the eyes
- Burning in the nose
- Sore throat
- Nausea
Continued exposure leads to a decrease in the body’s oxygen supply, causing:
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Death
Long-term exposure (particularly in people who spend the entire day outdoors) or exposure for the high-risk populations such as children, older adults, those who have asthma and other lung conditions, and those with heart conditions may induce:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Exacerbation of other respiratory symptoms (worsening Asthma, COPD, Emphysema, Cystic Fibrosis, etc.)
- Exacerbation of their cardiac (heart) conditions
- Lung cancer risk remains questionable
- Death
While we’re hearing less about it in the news, the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t entirely behind us. Yes, the state of emergency is over, but the virus continues to mutate and affect the country. Coupled with the irritation of the lungs caused by the wildfire smoke, COVID-19 could quickly become a re-emerging threat.
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, seek medical attention immediately.
If you have questions about how the smoke may affect you, call your physician or contact an advice helpline offered through your insurance carrier. Your insurance carrier’s contact information should be listed on your insurance card. If you have United Healthcare, you can contact them directly through Facebook or Twitter. E-visits are available for Kaiser Permanente members, and Anthem members can get help via live chat. Whichever route you choose, do so before your symptoms worsen.
How can you protect yourself?
When the smoke is visible or causing an unpleasant odor, it’s natural to want to cover your face and nose to keep the smoke out. However, covering your face with a homemade cloth mask or a surgical mask won’t help.
Particulate matter in wildfire smoke, as shown in this visual, is extremely small. Those tiny particles easily pass through masks. To protect yourself, you must use a properly fitted N-95 respirator mask. N-95s can be purchased at local pharmacies, hardware stores, and online retailers. Always dispose of your N-95 after each use unless the package specifically indicates that it is reusable.
To ensure your mask fits properly, place it on your face, then pull the straps over and behind your head. Press down on each side of the nosepiece to create a seal over the bridge of your nose. Check the seal by using your hands to cover the mask and breathing out hard. You should not feel any air escaping around the edges of your mask. If you feel air escaping, the mast may be too big or need to be tightened. Adjust the fit or try a smaller size, then repeat the test.
The FDA does NOT recommend using N95 masks on children. Kaiser Permanente has published a fact sheet on keeping children safe from wildfire smoke. For further guidance on keeping children safe when outdoors, contact your pediatrician.
The American Red Cross recommends doing the following during an air quality alert:
- Stay inside
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Use air conditioning with a high-quality filter
- When driving, use the recirculate feature on the air conditioning
- Use portable filtration systems in the home if available
Don’t forget your pets as you are taking steps to keep yourself and your family safe from the effects of the smoke. When possible, keep them indoors and limit their time outside to bathroom breaks only.
Are you keeping your employees safe?
Companies must prioritize the health and wellness of their employees, especially during the effects of natural disasters. There are several steps an organization can take to ensure their workforce stays well:
- Stay abreast of current air quality alerts through the local weather and news, gov, or email alerts from Enviroflash.info.
- Adjust working days or hours to avoid smoke (particularly for those who work outdoors)
- Offer N95 respirators to your employees
- Encourage employees wearing N95s to work at a slower pace and take breaks indoors
- Offer remote work when possible
- Ensure that employees who experience any symptoms listed above seek medical immediately
- When it is safe to go outside, be sure to practice Sun Safety, as sunburns are possible, even in smoky conditions.
Wildfire smoke will likely continue to plague us throughout the year, even as crews fight around the clock to extinguish the flames. Much like the COVID-19 pandemic, our diligence in protecting ourselves and protecting those in our care or management is our only hope in staying safe and well as we patiently wait for the smoke to clear.
Tammy McKinney, RN, creator of HelpfulHospiceNurse, is a healthcare writer and seasoned registered nurse. With experience in acute care, long-term care, rehabilitation, drug & alcohol, and hospice & palliative care, she combines her medical understanding with her love for writing to educate and inform the public on various health-related topics. You can view a snippet of her portfolio here or contact her directly on LinkedIn!
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