Extreme Heat, Fireworks & Wildfires Are a Trio of Asthma Hazards: Your Asthma Action Plan Family Health Kids' Health Women's Health Men's Health Diseases/Disorders
If you have asthma or know someone who does, listen up. As summer heats up, wildfires ravage the Intermountain West and Florida, and the nation prepares for celebratory fireworks, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) advises people with asthma to take steps to protect themselves and manage their condition.
“Summer can be a challenging time for the 28 million people in the U.S. with asthma," said Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at AAFA. "Common asthma triggers include air pollution generated from extreme heat, as well as from wildfires and fireworks. Monitoring air quality and creating and following an action plan can help people with asthma enjoy the summer season while avoiding these triggers."
AAFA recommends checking air quality at sites like AirNow.gov and PurpleAir.
When looking at the outdoor Air Quality Index, it's important to know what the color-coded air quality zones and values mean. Some people with asthma flare in yellow, orange is more likely to affect people with asthma, red is unhealthy and serious for asthma, purple is very unhealthy for everyone, and maroon is an emergency and affects everyone's health.
People with asthma should follow a plan to reduce exposure to asthma triggers during times of poor air quality. This plan should include:
- Staying inside and keeping windows/doors closed.
- Using an air conditioner if you have one.
- Wearing an N95 mask outdoors.
- If you are an outdoor worker, consider wearing a well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirator when air quality is unhealthy.
- Skipping fireworks and finding a non-polluting way to celebrate – if there are fireworks being used in your area, stay inside.
- Having someone who doesn’t have asthma do clean-up of wildfire ash.
- Working with your doctor to create an Asthma Action Plan.
According to AAFA, policymakers can take action to protect people from the causes of certain asthma triggers. For example, drought fuels
"Asthma episodes caused by air pollution can lead to increased emergency department visits, hospitalizations and even death," Carver added. "People with asthma can use an action plan to reduce their personal risk and policymakers should take action to protect entire communities."
Learn more about the impact of heat and wildfires on asthma.
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