Stuck Inside, Smoke and Heat Are Coming…Early: Part Four
Are You Active Outside?
- Respect the social distancing directives and gathering size limits
- Don’t do any strenuous activity or exercise, as you breathe 10-20 times more when exercising than when at rest
- Stop what you are doing if it makes you feel tired or overheated
- When there is a lot of haze in the air, limit how long your children play outside or vulnerable folks sit outside
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. This will keep your nose and mouth moist, which makes it easier to breathe
- If you have chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, or signs of heat related illness, call 911
Are you active in your community?
- Regularly check all public service announcements on local media (e.g. TV, radio, digital and social media)
- If you have neighbours, friends, or relatives who live alone, check on them to make sure they are okay
- Know safe places to go in your community if asked to shelter-in-place
- If you’re in the wildfire area, be ready to evacuate
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help, your family, friends, local community and church groups are eager to support you
What if you have asthma or a heart or lung problem?
- Carefully monitor your health. Take all of your regular medicines and do everything your nurse or doctor told you to. It’s a good idea to have a week’s supply of medicine with you.
- If you plan to use a portable air cleaner, buy one that is right for the room size (as per manufacturer instructions). Do this before a smoke emergency happens. Don’t use units that might produce ozone.
- If you have any health concerns, talk to your nurse or doctor.
Improve Your Home
- Install a high-performance whole- home filtration system designed for wood fire smoke
- Install a whole-home air conditioning system; at the minimum improve your ventilation system
- Make sure your humidifier works well, as it assists with the reduction of particulates, viruses and bacteria
by Carla Berezowski,
Home Comfort Expert and Aging at Home Specialist
