Lung Association urges Idaho families to protect lungs during wildfire season

The following is a news release from the American Lung Association.

IDAHO FALLS — Once again, wildfires are burning in throughout Idaho and throughout the West. Wildfires bring smoke that worsens air quality and negatively affects lung health. The American Lung Association has tips to protect your health from damaging effects of wildfires. The public may find the latest resources to protect their family’s lungs at Lung.org/Wildfires.

Hazardous smoke from these wildfires can present potentially lethal health hazards to those who work and live in the affected areas, and across the state as wind gusts blow smoke throughout the region. One of the many pollutants found in wildfire smoke is particle pollution, which is a mix of very tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in air. Exposure to wildfire smoke and particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes. Some of the most vulnerable to exposure are babies, small children, pregnant women, the elderly and anyone with existing respiratory problems or heart disease.

“Thousands of people living in Idaho are at risk of breathing polluted air from these wildfires,” said Heather Kimmel, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Idaho. “As multiple fires continue to burn, there’s an increased risk of damaging health effects as can range from lung irritation to serious illnesses.”

Idaho residents who have respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart disease should take extra precautions during this time and call their physician immediately if problems develop.

The American Lung Association offers the following tips:

– Stay inside as much as possible, with doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut – with clean air circulating through air conditions and/or air cleaners. Residents should use the recirculation setting on their home air conditions to avoid outdoor air contamination.

– When driving through smoky areas, car windows and vents should be closed. Air conditioning should be set to recirculate to avoid exposure to outside air.

– Avoid vacuuming, this adds dust to the air.

– Avoid exercising outdoors, particularly if you smell smoke of experience eye or throat irritation.

– If you have lung disease, check in with your physician about worsening symptoms and your medications.

– Know the air quality in your area by visiting www.airnow.gov or download the AirNow app on your smartphone. Local radio, TV weather reports, EastIdahoNews.com and newspapers also provide updates.

More information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke can be found at Lung.org/wildfires. You can also call the American Lung Association Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNG-USA to speak with respiratory therapists and registered nurses regarding questions about lung health.