(KRON) – California has recently been plagued with wildfires. A byproduct of the wildfire is the aftermath smoke, commonly known as wildfire smoke.
According to the National Weather Service, wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation and other materials. The weather service said the smoke can potentially travel hundreds of miles and even cause health concerns.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says wildfire may lead to coughing, wheezing and trouble breathing. Stinging eyes, rapid heartbeat, chest pain and asthma attacks are the more severe symptoms.
To mitigate health risks, here are recommendations from the NWS and the American Red Cross:
- Stay indoors and keep windows closed
- Keep pets indoors as well
- When using air conditioning, keep the outdoor air intake closed and clean the filter to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside
- If you are outside, consider wearing a respirator (N95 or 9100 masks) to avoid exertion
- Use a portable air cleaner
- Avoid lighting candles, fireplaces or gas stoves
The CDC provides an Air Quality Index chart.
Residents can monitor the air quality by entering their zip code at airnow.gov.
