Australia’s bushfire season is officially during an . And after three wet years, and the that comes with it, there’s fuel to burn.
Authors
Kazi Mizanur Rahman
Associate Professor of Healthcare Innovations, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University
Joe Duncan
Clinical Associate Lecturer, Northern Clinical School and Lecturer, Internal Medicine. Rural Clinical School (Northern Rivers), University of Sydney
Jo Longman
Senior Research Fellow, The University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney
With the prospect of comes smoke. This not only affects people in bushfire regions, but those far away, as smoke travels.
People with a are among those especially affected.
What’s so dangerous about bushfire smoke?
Bushfire smoke we breathe by increasing the concentration of particulate matter (or PM).
Once inhaled, (especially with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, known as PM2.5) can get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream.
Concentration of gases in the air – such as , and – also increase, to pollute the air.
All these cause the airway to , making it hard to breathe.
This can be even worse for people with existing asthma or other respiratory conditions whose airways are already inflamed.
Emergency department visits and hospital admissions for asthma-related symptoms to bushfire smoke.
Smoke from the bushfires in summer 2019/20 an estimated 400 deaths or more from any cause, more than 1,300 emergency department visits for asthma symptoms, and more than 2,000 hospital admissions for respiratory issues.
Even if symptoms are not serious enough to warrant emergency medical attention, exposure to bushfire smoke cough, nasal congestion, wheezing and asthma flares.
If you have , , or another lung condition, or you care for someone who has, here’s what you can do to prepare for the season ahead.
1. Avoid smoke
Monitor your local air quality by downloading one or both of these apps:
from Asthma Australia has live air-quality information to help you plan and act
, developed by Australian scientists, can be another useful app to monitor your environment, track your symptoms and help manage your health.
During times of poor air quality and smoke stay indoors and avoid smoke exposure. Close windows and doors, and if you have one, use an air conditioner to recirculate the air.
Avoid unnecessary which makes us breathe more to deliver more oxygen to the body, but also means we inhale more polluted air. Consider temporarily moving to a safer residence.
Well-fitting N95/P2 masks can reduce your exposure to fine smoke particles if you must travel. However they can make it more difficult to breathe if you are unwell. In that case, you may find a mask with a valve .
2. Have an action plan
Taking your regular preventer medication ensures your lung health is optimised before the danger period.
Ensure you have a . This provides you with clear instructions on how to take early actions to prevent symptoms deteriorating or to reduce the severity of flare-ups. Review this plan with your GP, share it with a family member, pin it to the fridge.
Make sure you have emergency medication available, know when to call for help, and what medication to take while you wait. You may consider storing an emergency “reliever puffer” in your home or with a neighbour.
3. Have the right equipment
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters smoke exposure inside the home during a fire event by 30-74%. These filters remove particulate matter from the air.
A spacer, which is a small chamber to contain inhaled medication, can help you take emergency medication if you are breathing quickly. You may want to have one to hand.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
