This past week, the Pacific Northwest has been engulfed in smoke due to wildfires burning inland, resulting in very poor air quality.
It was reported that some smoke from the wildfires were travelling as far east as Ontario, the Maritimes and beyond - even across the Atlantic to Ireland.
Suffice to say, I could get into the politics of Climate Change or write about the Geo-engineering of our planet however right now I prefer to briefly write about the safety precautions that need to be applied when exposed to smoke from wildfires, since it appears that this will be the norm in the West in the summertime.
PERSONS MOST AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES
Persons who are most effected by wildfires and smoke exposures are anyone with a sensitivity to air pollution.
Also, persons with asthma or other chronic respiratory disease and with cardiovascular disease are at risks. So are seniors, infants and children and pregnant woman.
Many people may develop a runny nose, or scratchy throat, irritated sinuses and headaches. You may also develop a cough. The best way to avoid this is simply making sure your diet is spartan and stick to the Nutritional Balancing Diet.
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SOME EXPOSURE
• Stay indoors whenever possible with the doors and windows closed. Do not exercise or do to much walking. The indoors is the safest place to be.
• Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution such as smoke from tobacco, wood-burning stoves and burning candles and do not use your oven for baking or roasting.
• Use high-efficiency (HEPA) air-cleaning filters, if available.
• Use also a air purifier called an ozonator/ionizer air purifier. This is a special way to add extra oxygen to your body. It is a simple way to enhance your health.
• Avoid vacuuming, which can stir up dust.
• When driving in a vehicle, keep windows closed with air conditioning set to recirculate.
• Drink plenty of water to help reduce symptoms of scratchy throat and coughing. Leaving the area of thick smoke may be best for those with health conditions that put them at higher risk for illness from wildfire smoke.
If your eyes are irritated from wildfire smoke, you can relieve the symptoms by drinking plenty of water. Running a humidifier may also provide relief. If you are in an area where there is a lot of ash or fine dust, consider wearing goggles.
YOUR ANIMALS
Consider that smoke as a similar effect on your animals.High levels of smoke may irritate your animal’s eyes and respiratory tract. Strategies to reduce animals’ exposure to smoke are also similar to those for humans: reduce the time spent in smoky areas, provide animals with plenty of water, limit activities that will increase breathing and reduce exposure to dust or other air pollutants.
Basically, stay indoors and rest. If you go out, do not spend too much time outdoors. Breathing smoke can be detrimental to your health in the long run.
Josephine Certified Nutritionist
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