How to protect your children from forest fires – SFU News

By Cecilia Sierra-Heredia, Ph.D. Candidate, Simon Fraser University

This article appeared on July 8, 2018 in The Conversation. A link to the original can be found at the bottom of the story.

We are very careful about what our children eat, but what about the air they breathe?

In recent summers, children on the west coast of Canada have breathed some of the most polluted air ever recorded. This is due to seasonal forest fires that have burned in large areas of North America and affected larger areas with their smoke.

The polluted air generated by forest fires is responsible for foggy skies, smells of coal and

Already, far more fires are raging in British Columbia than last year at this time. times, and fires also explode on the west coast of the United States

Even when the hazy sky and unpleasant odors dissipate fairly quickly. The respiratory problems caused by these fires can persist and, in some cases, become a serious chronic illness.

From asthma to low birth weight

Research clearly shows that air pollution contributes to the development of asthma. 19659004] Asthma is a chronic disease where parts of the lungs are severely irritated and swollen when they are exposed to certain airborne components such as ozone or particles. e question. This inflammation makes children wheeze or cough and have trouble breathing. An asthma attack can become so severe that the patient needs immediate medical attention to avoid dying of choking.

Every child, regardless of health status, is at greater risk of smog hazards. Children breathe more air relative to their height than adults, breathing more pollutants than their caregivers.

Air pollution affects lung development even in the uterus and is related to low birth weight and premature births. from the air your children breathe can affect the development of their respiratory system: their nose, throat and lungs. The air that children breathe now can cause problems for years to come.

More likely to catch the cold

Even though children do not suffer from breathing problems, it is important not to expose them to smog. Pollution can make children more likely to catch a cold or make the colds last longer. Since the body is busy treating inhaled pollutants, the response to the virus or bacteria is not as good as it should be.

Just as we avoid exposing children to too much candy, even if they do not rot. diabetes in a matter of hours, we need to limit the amount of smog our children breathe.

Individuals have little control over forest fires. However, caregivers can do many things to reduce their child's exposure to smog.

Seven Steps You Can Take

1. Monitor air pollution levels in your community with the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). The CAS is accessible through news, social media or apps (for iOS and Android)

2. Stay inside as much as possible and avoid doing any exercise or any engage in strenuous physical activity when the CAS indicates dangerous levels. Air filter (HEPA) in your home, or at least in the rooms where you spend the most time. If you buy a laptop, you can place it in the living room all day and then place it in the bedroom of your children at night.

3. If you can not buy a HEPA filter (or the subsequent increase in your electricity bill), try spending time in indoor community spaces such as libraries, shopping malls, or shopping malls. community centers.

4. Avoid smoking inside your home. It's important every day, but it becomes especially relevant when smog levels are already outside the graphs.

5. If your child has been diagnosed with allergies or asthma, go to your pediatrician before the start of the wildfire season.

6. Observe symptoms such as wheezing, coughing or labored breathing, and any verbal complaints your child expresses. Take them to a walk-in clinic or emergency service if necessary.

According to current forecasts, forest fires will be more prevalent, but there is evidence that limiting the amount of smog we breathe can our lungs – and a healthier and cleaner future for you and your children .

This article originally appeared on The Conversation. Read the original article.