Recent wildfires and smoky conditions across Northern Nevada have brought fire preparedness and air quality back to the forefront for many families in our community. Vania Carter-Strauss, nurse practitioner and faculty at the Orvis School of Nursing at the 夜色视频 recently discussed these concerns during the monthly Pulso de Salud segment with Telemundo Reno, where she focused on a part of wildfire preparedness that can sometimes be overlooked: protecting our health from smoke exposure and being prepared before conditions become dangerous.
Fire season is a familiar part of life in Nevada, but preparing for fires does not only mean watching evacuation maps or protecting our homes. As a nurse practitioner with extensive pulmonary expertise, Carter-Strauss notes that “smoke from fires can travel long distances and affect our health even when the flames themselves are nowhere nearby.”
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and make it more difficult to breathe. While smoke can affect anyone, children, pregnant individuals, older adults and people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and other chronic health conditions may be particularly vulnerable.
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to make checking the Air Quality Index (AQI) part of your routine during wildfire season. Carter-Strauss stresses the importance of knowing how to read the AQI and how it can affect you and your family. Conditions can change throughout the day, so check the AQI before exercising, sending children outside to play or spending extended periods outdoors. When air quality is poor, limiting outdoor activity and keeping windows and doors closed can reduce exposure.
“If you use an inhaler, check it before you need it,” Carter Strauss said. “This is something I frequently remind my patients: Having an inhaler isn't helpful if it is expired or empty.”
If you or someone in your household uses an inhaler, take a few minutes now to check the expiration date and make sure there are doses remaining. If you have an asthma or COPD action plan, review it and make sure you understand what to do if symptoms worsen. This is an important time to involve your healthcare provider and inquire about refills, emergency medications or other treatment options should your symptoms change or worsen.
Parents should take this one step further
If your child uses a rescue inhaler, make sure one is readily accessible at home or with you and that your child has appropriate access to their medication at school according to their healthcare plan and school procedures. Children spend significant portions of their day at school and may be outside for recess, physical education, athletics or other activities when smoke conditions change.
Stay connected with your child's school nurse and make sure the school has current information about your child's asthma or other respiratory condition, necessary medications and action plan.
Look out for people who may be more vulnerable
Wildfire season is also a time to check on one another.
If you have a neighbor, friend or family member who is pregnant, an older adult, a child, or someone living with a heart or lung condition, don't stop at asking, "Are you OK?"
Help them watch for symptoms that could be related to smoke exposure, including:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness or discomfort
- Burning or irritation of the eyes, nose or throat
- Headache or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue or worsening of existing respiratory symptoms
“Sometimes people do not immediately connect a headache, persistent cough or worsening asthma symptoms with the smoky air outside. Recognizing that connection can help someone reduce their exposure and seek medical care when needed,” Carter-Strauss said.
Difficulty breathing, severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, fainting or other severe or rapidly worsening symptoms require prompt medical attention.
Make the air inside your home safer
When wildfire smoke is affecting your community, staying indoors can help, but only if you also pay attention to the air inside your home.
Keep windows and doors closed when outdoor air quality is poor. If possible, set your heating or air-conditioning system to recirculate rather than bringing outdoor air inside. A properly sized portable air cleaner can also help reduce particles indoors.
This is another reason to prepare before smoke arrives. Check your HVAC filter, consider creating a cleaner-air room in your home, and have several days of necessary medications and supplies available so you don't have to go outside unnecessarily when conditions deteriorate. Depending on your system, filter type, household conditions and smoke exposure, filters may need to be checked and replaced more frequently during wildfire season. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and replace filters when they become visibly dirty.
Prepare for more than smoke
“Finally, every household in a wildfire-prone community should have an evacuation plan,” Carter-Strauss said.
Know how you will receive emergency alerts. Talk with your family about where you will go, how you will get there, who will be responsible for children or family members who need assistance, and how you will evacuate pets. Keep essential medications, important documents and other emergency supplies somewhere they can be gathered quickly. This is also a good time to test smoke alarms and make sure they are working properly.
Carter- Strauss stressed how critical it is to listen to the authorities in the community.
“And perhaps most importantly: If officials issue an evacuation order, leave immediately,” she said. “It can be tempting to wait, gather a few more belongings or see whether conditions improve. Wildfires can change direction and intensity quickly. Things can be replaced. Our lives cannot.”
Preparation is part of prevention
“We cannot prevent every wildfire or control where the smoke travels, but we can control many of the steps we take to protect ourselves and one another,” Carter-Strauss said.
Check the air quality. Know your personal risk. Keep medications and important documents ready. Stay connected with your child's school and school nurse. Check on the people around you who may need a little extra support. Have an evacuation plan before you need one.
A few minutes of preparation today can make an enormous difference when conditions change tomorrow.
Ready to go: What to pack before an evacuation
If wildfire conditions are developing near your community, don't wait for an evacuation order to start gathering essentials. Consider keeping a small “go bag” ready with:
- Prescription medications and inhalers
- Copies of important documents and identification
- Phone chargers and portable battery packs
- Water and nonperishable snacks
- N95 masks
- Basic first-aid supplies
- Eyeglasses, contact lenses and other essential medical supplies
- A change of clothing and sturdy shoes
- Essential items for infants, children or older family members
- Pet food, medications, leashes/carriers and other pet supplies
- A written list of important phone numbers and emergency contacts
Don't forget the things that are difficult to replace. If time allows before an evacuation order is issued, consider gathering important documents, essential medical equipment and a few irreplaceable personal items so they are ready to go.
Once an evacuation order is issued, the priority changes: leave. Do not delay your evacuation to finish packing or gather belongings.
