Help Oregonians Stay Safe This Wildfire Season

Clean air is something we might take for granted. But when the air quality becomes an issue, especially due to recent wildfire activity in Oregon, it can affect our daily lives. Governor Tina Kotek has declared a state of emergency, citing an “imminent and ongoing threat of wildfire.”

When smoke from wildfires infiltrates the air, it can create a mixture of gases and fine particles. These microscopic particles are what can cause health issues, including burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis.

While all Oregonians should prioritize their health during wildfire season, several groups may be more at risk when air quality becomes poor. This includes people with lung diseases like COPD or asthma, people with heart disease, older adults over 65, young children and pregnant women.

It’s important to take steps to prepare yourself, your loved ones, and your home from wildfires to reduce risk. Here are some additional guidelines that can help protect your health:

• Check your local Air Quality Index using local news forecasts or AirNow.gov to see whether air is rated from “Good” to “Hazardous” and know when it’s safe to be outside.
  
• Avoid exercising outdoors when air quality issues arise.
  
• Limit the time your child spends playing outside if air quality is unhealthy.
  
• Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep your windows and doors closed, run an air conditioner but keep the fresh-air intake closed and keep the filter clean.
  
• Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution like burning candles, fireplaces and gas stoves.
  
• Don’t allow anyone to smoke inside.

If the air becomes dangerous, everyone needs to take steps to help protect themselves. People most at risk should take precautions before air quality reaches “hazardous” levels, especially staying indoors with filtered air. If you must be outside for an extended period of time, consider wearing a tight-fitting N95 mask. Oregonians should generally keep activity levels low and use air filtration whenever possible.

Even if you are healthy, you may experience symptoms of poor air quality. Some symptoms to be aware of include coughing, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, chest tightness and shortness of breath. For those with heart disease or other heart issues, be aware of the symptoms of heart attack and stroke.

Most health symptoms of poor air quality should go away when the conditions improve. During this wildfire season, Community members need to take care of themselves and each other to ensure safety this summer. If you have concerns about your symptoms, contact your health care provider.