Wildfire smoke is a huge threat to health, but there are ways to stay safer. We've sorted information for patients, providers, and administrators below.

Patients

How Smoke Affects Your Health:

• Trouble concentrating, anxiety, and headaches.

• Trouble breathing and lung diseases.

• Increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and heart attacks.

• Kidney damage and higher risk of diabetes.

How to Track Your Local Air Quality:

Four Senses

• If you smell smoke, avoid heavy activity outside. Stay inside if possible.
• If the air looks hazy and you can't see as far as usual, avoid going outside.
• If the air tastes ashy, be aware.
• Local conversations and news are a great source of information.
  

Local Media

Your local newspaper, radio, and weather channel might carry info on air quality. If they don't, write to them and ask them to!

Online

AirNow is a government program that depends on local air quality monitors to give you exact, live info about wildfire smoke and pollutants in your area. This is presented as the Air Quality Index.

The Air Quality Index scale connects air quality and health impacts in a way that is easy to understand and widely used. The scale runs from Good to Hazardous air quality based on the concentration of the five most concerning pollutants.

The AQI is available on many phone apps. You can also sign up for email or text alerts through AirNow's EnviroFlash program.

Breezometer, another service, shows the break down of pollen as well as pollutants, which you may want to know if you have allergies.

Protect Your Health on Bad Air Quality Days:

• Stay inside (with windows closed) whenever you can.
  
• Use a portable air cleaner or a box fan filter if you have one.
  
• Reduce physical activity during smoky times. Take it easy.
  
• If you can't avoid going outside to work, use an N95 mask or respirator. Staying in an enclosed cab with filtered air (like an enclosed tractor) can also help. Try to limit time in the smoke whenever you can, and take breaks.
  

DIY Box Fan Air Filter

You will need:

• A box fan
• A square furnace filter (MERV 13 or FRP 10) the size of your fan (usually 20 in. x 20 in.)
• Duct tape or bungee cord

Steps:

1. Find the arrow on the side of the filter and point this toward the fan.
2. Place the filter with the arrow side on the back of the fan (the side air goes into).
   
3. Use duct tape or bungee cord to attach the filter to the fan.
   
4. Close all windows and doors to seal your home off from further smoke.
   
5. Turn on your new air filter!
   

Providers

Provider info coming soon! Contact us in the meantime if you have questions.

Administrators

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A 2008-2012 health analysis in the U.S. linked 1500-2500 premature deaths to short-term wildfire smoke and an economic cost of $11-$20 billion U.S dollars. Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke showed 8700-32,000 premature deaths and an economic cost of $76-$130 billion USD. (Fann et. al, 2018).

Particulate matter 2.5 (suspended particles of smoke) & human health

PM 2.5 travels deep into the respiratory system, enters the bloodstream, and has been found in the brains, kidneys, and on the fetal side of the placenta. It also:

• triggers ischemic events and cardiac dysrhythmias
  
• aggravates asthma and all respiratory diseases
  
• adversely affects kidney function
  
• negatively affects cognitive function
  
• increases risk for pre-term birth in pregnant people
  
• decreases lung function in children
  

Children are more at risk because of a higher metabolic rate, smaller air ways, and still developing lungs.

The older population is more at risk due to common pre-existing diseases and declining natural defense systems from age.

Wildfire smoke increases the risk of premature birth. Exposure to PM 2.5 from any source can have negative effects on unborn children, impacting their entire lives.

Outdoor workers (ranchers, farmers, fish/wildlife, outdoor tourism, construction) are at increased risk due to their extended time spent outdoors, often with no protection from wildfire smoke.

Native folks, people of color, and people with lower income have higher rates of asthma due to environmental injustice. Asthma increases the risk for adverse health events from wildfire smoke.

How you can help

• Keep the HVAC system regularly serviced.
  
• Offer a clean air space for the vulnerable population in your community.  
  
• Assess your public building for appropriate air filtration.
  
• Educate local residents through a wild smoke awareness week.
  
• Consider box fan or HEPA filter distribution (and contact us to work together)!
  
• Have easy-to-access information on how community members can track air quality. Our Air Quality Flag program might be a good fit for your community, if the flags aren't already flying!
  

Track your local air quality

The Air Quality Index scale connects air quality and health impacts in a way that is easy to understand and widely used. Local, up-to-date air quality data can be found at www.airnow.gov.

IS YOUR HOSPITAL IN A WILDFIRE THREAT ZONE?
Find out at hazards.fema.gov/nri/wildfire and read the US EPA's guide, Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials for specific strategies to reduce smoke impacts.

Banners

We developed a series of educational banners for display in your waiting rooms. You can download our wildfire smoke banner here, or contact us to sign up for a time slot to host our high-quality banners in your waiting room or lobby for free!

Wildfire_Banner.pdf
File Size:	8539 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Many thanks to our generous partner, the Rocky Mountain Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit!

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