Wildfire smoke safety tips: How to keep you, your family and beloved pets safe
Powerful, wind-fueled wildfires raging across parts of Los Angeles County on Wednesday filled the surrounding air with smoke, making it unhealthy to breathe, officials said.
"Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel, or how winds will impact air quality, is difficult, so it's important for everyone to stay aware of the air quality in your area, make plans, and take action to protect your health and your family's health," Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a news release.
The small particles in wildfire smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat and can affect the heart and lungs, making it harder to breathe. It can also cause headaches and bronchitis, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health said.
Here's how to stay safe from the smoke-filled air
Stay indoors
Anyone in areas where smoke is visible or it can be smelled in the air should limit their time outdoors. Avoid any physical exertion, including indoors, officials said.
Even in areas where you can't see or smell smoke, those at high risk should stay inside. That includes children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with underlying conditions such as asthma or heart and lung conditions.
Schools and recreational programs are also advised to limit children's time outdoors and cancel outdoor sports practices and physical education classes, and also cancel them indoors in areas with visible smoke.
While inside, keep windows and doors shut to prevent smoky air from getting inside, and use HEPA air purifiers to improve indoor air quality. Only run air conditioning if it does not draw in air from outdoors. Make sure you check and replace filters if needed; MERV 13 and higher filters are recommended for smoke, the health department said.
If you can’t buy a commercial portable air filter, you can create your own. One example is the Corsi-Rosenthal box made from simple materials of an air filter, box fan and duct tape.
The American Lung Association recommends creating a “clean room” in your home where risk of wildfire smoke is high. The Environmental Protection Agency says this room should be free from activities that create particles from cooking or smoking. Doors should be kept closed to prevent smoke from entering. A portable air cleaner can make the room’s air cleaner than the rest of the home.
Don't use fireplaces, candles or vacuums, and don't smoke.
What to do if you must go outside
If you must go outside, you should wear a high-quality, well-fitting N95 o4 P100 respirator mask to protect yourself.
Do not do strenuous physical activity while outdoors and keep time outside short.
How to keep pets safe
Animals are also at risk from breathing too much smoky air, and can't keep themselves safe by wearing a mask outdoors. But they still may need to go outside, so it's important to monitor their health.
Like humans, the elderly and very youngest pets are most at risk, as are animals with pre-existing heart and lung issues, Dr. Aly Cohen with the Cornell University Riney Canine Health Center previously told USA TODAY. Some breeds might be more at risk for respiratory distress.
These are the symptoms pet owners should watch for that mean your pet is suffering from breathing the smoky air, and if they don't improve, you may want to check in with a vet, Cohen said:
Red and watery eyes
Watery nose
Coughing or gagging
Elevated respiratory rate when not engaged in activity
Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Limit any physical activity for your pets outdoors while the air is smoky, and keep bathroom trips outside short.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wildfire smoke safety tips: How to keep you, your family and pets safe
