Wildfire smoke can cause significant health concerns especially if you have underlying health conditions. Here is what you need to know if you are in the path of wildfire smoke. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Kroegers Ace Hardware.
Transcript
Watery eyes coughing, difficulty breathing. Wildfires in their smoke can have a significant impact on your health. Here’s what you should know to protect yourself during wildfire season. You are watching the local News Network brought to you by Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steak Burgers and Craig’s Ace Hardware. I am Sadie Smith. Wildfire. Smoke like other pollutants can have significant impacts on your health. People with chronic conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease are most at risk.
The most serious health effects that you really want to be aware of are significant trouble breathing. If you have asthma, if you are experiencing an asthma attack feeling, you certainly want to go into your physician or into the emergency department to get that addressed. Chest pain is another critical one. And then finally, a fast heartbeat because that could be related to another cardiovascular condition that you might have already, but could be aggravated by the smoke.
Wildfire smoke also poses risks from toxic particles released when structures like houses burn.
The particulates that come in wildfire smoke are smaller than a strand of hair. So if you can imagine inhaling these small particles of ash and other things that have been burning into your lungs, they get in there and they stay in there for quite a while.
When the Air Quality Index rises above 100 people with underlying health conditions may be at risk. Anything greater than one 50 puts everyone at risk.
If we have an air quality index of greater or equal to 151 or above, no one should be really doing outdoor exercise, limiting strenuous activities, including gardening or anything like that where you may be having to lift, but past that point, it is really generally unhealthy for even healthy individuals to be out in that exposure
When the air quality is low limit outdoor exposure and keep a room available in your home that maintains a clean air with an air filter and keep the windows closed.
Stay aware of the wildfire activity in your area. There are a number of resources that we can point you to that give you maps about the wildfire activity in the area, and also the smoke and the level of the air quality in your area.
La Plata County encourages all residents to sign up for code red alerts to receive immediate notifications of wildfire activity and other emergencies. You can find the current air quality conditions@airnow.gov. For more information about this and other stories, visit Durango local.news. Thank you for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I’m Sadie Smith.
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