As Dozens of Wildfires Continue to Rage Across Oregon, American Lung Association Provides Tips to Protect Lungs

More than two dozen fires continue to burn across Oregon, causing very unhealthy and even hazardous air quality in much of the state. And while forecasted storms may slow their progress, lighting from such storms could ignite new fires. The American Lung Association in Oregon offers the following tips to protect Oregonians’ health from the serious hazards wildfire smoke poses.

Wildfire smoke poses a serious health threat to people living and working near fires. Wildfire smoke can also travel thousands of miles and impacts the health of anyone who breathes it. Breathing this smoke places even healthy individuals at risk, and you should talk with your healthcare provider about how to prepare for this exposure, especially if you work outdoors, are pregnant, are under age 18 or over age 65, or have asthma, COPD or a lung disease, chronic heart disease or diabetes.

To help residents protect their health, the Lung Association has released the following health tips:

• Stay indoors. People in areas impacted by wildfire smoke should remain indoors when possible and avoid breathing smoke, ashes and other pollution in the area.

• Protect the air in your home. Keep doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut and preferably with clean indoor air circulating through air conditioners on the recirculation setting.

• Prepare to evacuate if directed. People living close to the fire-stricken areas should pay attention to local emergency alerts. When driving your car in smoky areas, keep your windows and vents closed. Air conditioning should only be operated in the "recirculate" setting.

• Create a travel pack. Those with chronic lung disease are encouraged to gather all of their medications, delivery devices, prescriptions and insurance cards in one spot so they can quickly be transported in the event of an evacuation.

• Keep an eye on symptoms. Higher levels of smoke in some areas can make breathing more difficult. If you are experiencing wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty taking a full breath, chest heaviness, lightheadedness, dizziness, a persistent cough or experience difficult or painful breathing, contact your healthcare provider. The first symptoms can appear as late as 24 to 48 hours after exposure...

• Take precautions for kids. Extra precaution should be taken for children, who are more susceptible to smoke. Their lungs are still developing and they breathe in more air (and consequently more pollution) for their size than adults.

• Don’t count on a dust mask. Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, and cloth facial coverings will not help. They still allow the more dangerous smaller particles to pass through. Masks rated as N-95 or N-100 will filter out the damaging fine particles more effectively, although they do not fully protect anyone from harm. It is important to note that masks may not fit properly or work for everyone—they are not made for children, or for adults with facial hair, and are difficult for people with lung disease to use.
   
• Ask for help. The American Lung Association’s Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA is staffed by nurses and respiratory therapists, and is a free resource to answer any questions about the lungs, lung disease and lung health, including how to protect yourself during wildfires and wildfire smoke events.

More information about wildfires and lung health can be found at Lung.org/wildfires.