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June 27 2018
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More and more
people live in areas prone to wildfires. Wildfire smoke
can harm you in multiple ways. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your
respiratory system and worsen conditions for those who have chronic
heart and lung diseases. Even someone who is healthy can get sick if enough is smoke in the air. If possible, limit your exposure to smoke. Here are
some tips to help you protect your health:
-
Pay attention to local air
quality reports and the U.S. Air Quality Index.
When a wildfire occurs in your area, watch for news or health warnings
about smoke. Pay attention to public health messages and take extra safety
measures such as avoiding spending time outdoors.
-
Pay attention to visibility
guides if they are available. Although not every community
measures the amount of particles in the air, some communities in the
western United States have guidelines to help people estimate air quality
based on how far they can see.
-
If you are told to stay
indoors, stay indoors and keep your indoor air as clean as possible.
Keep windows and doors closed unless it's very hot outside. Run an air
conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the
filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. Seek shelter
elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it's too warm to stay
inside with the windows closed.
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If
you’re a pregnant woman who might be evacuated from your home, please do the
following:
- Be
prepared to evacuate quickly and have important items (listed below) ready
to go—you may not have much time.
- Take copies of any medical records with you.
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- Take
your prescription medicines with you.
- Bring
bottled water to make sure you have plenty to drink.
- Be
prepared to tell the staff at the shelter or temporary housing you are
pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant.
- Be
prepared to continue your prenatal care—even with a different provider,
if necessary.
- Be
prepared to tell the health care providers about any special needs or
health problems that you have as well as any medicines you might be
taking (both over the counter and prescription.)
- Avoid
breathing smoke or fumes and stay away from areas where there is a lot of
smoke. Stay indoors if possible.
- Rest often.
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If
you are a parent with a young infant who might be evacuated from your home,
please do the following:
- Be
prepared to evacuate quickly and have important items (listed below) ready
to go—you may not have much time.
- Take copies of your baby’s immunization records
with you.
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- Take
your baby’s medicines with you.
- Make
sure your baby gets plenty of breast milk or formula—bring as much as you
can.
- Make
sure health care providers at shelters or temporary housing know of any
special needs or health problems your baby has as well as any medicines
your baby is taking (both over the counter and prescription).
- Keep your baby away from areas where there is
smoke or fumes, and stay indoors if possible.
Contact Us
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Email: epic@cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd Atlanta, GA 30333
Questions?
Contact CDC-INFO
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348
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