As wildfires burn, smoke makes it easier to get COVID-19, experts say. How to be safe
As wildfires rage across the western U.S., health experts warn that usual preparations needed to stay safe may veer from the norm as the coronavirus pandemic continues to burden millions in the country.
Fires are blazing in California, Oregon and Colorado, media outlets report, but the smoke can drift with the wind hundreds of miles to nearby states.
“Wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs, cause inflammation” and “affect your immune system” by making you more likely to catch infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus driving the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It contains tiny solid and liquid particles that float in the air and are “no larger than one third the diameter of your hair,” the American Lung Association says. “These particles are so small that they enter and lodge deep in the lungs.”
Smoke also comprises many harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless gas that can reduce oxygen delivery to your organs and tissues when inhaled, the group said. This can lead to “headaches, nausea, dizziness and, in high concentration, premature death.”
And although face masks can protect you and others from contracting the coronavirus, they offer no safety from wildfire smoke, the CDC says. The harmful particles released when fire combusts are small enough to slide through them.
“Although N95 respirators do provide protection from wildfire smoke, they might be in short supply as frontline healthcare workers use them during the pandemic,” the CDC noted.
Children under 18 years old, adults over 65, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, people of lower socioeconomic status including those experiencing homelessness and people with chronic health conditions such as lung disease, asthma, diabetes and heart disease should be extra careful around wildfire smoke, according to the agency.
It’s also important to note the difference between COVID-19 symptoms and those of smoke exposure; “Dry cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing” can be brought on by both, the CDC says, but fever, chills, muscle aches and diarrhea are unique to the coronavirus.
Before a wildfire breaks out
Health officials say it’s best to give yourself more time to prepare for wildfire events given the added precautions needed to protect yourself from COVID-19.
The CDC suggests getting disaster supplies delivered to your home as opposed to in-person shopping, but if the former is not an option, make sure to wear a mask and keep a distance from others of at least six feet.
Stock up on medications as well, the CDC says, and learn about which public centers such as shopping malls, libraries and community areas are open or have limited capacity due to the coronavirus. That way, you know which shelters to escape to in the event a dangerous fire breaks out.
What to do when a wildfire is blazing nearby
The CDC says the best way to avoid the dangers of fire and smoke for people living in or nearby regions experiencing an event is to stay indoors and seek spaces with cleaner air.
You can do this by using a portable air cleaner in one or more rooms and let them run continuously with windows and doors closed, according to the agency.
You should also avoid activities such as vacuuming, sweeping, frying foods and using gas-powered appliances to limit the amount of indoor and outdoor air pollution. If an evacuation is necessary, make sure to social distance when seeking shelter in public spaces and when checking up on neighbors and friends.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 2:30 PM with the headline "As wildfires burn, smoke makes it easier to get COVID-19, experts say. How to be safe."
