Precautions Against Air Pollution from Bushfires and Crop Burning

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Air pollution is today the most dangerous public health hazard across the globe. WHO data estimates that around seven million people die annually due to air pollution worldwide.

According to a new study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, people infected with the COVID-19 virus who live in highly polluted regions in the US are more likely to die from the disease than people who live in less polluted areas.

Despite this noticeable hazard, not many people understand the absolute connection between air pollution and their personal health. More public awareness of the issue is crucial.

High risk demographics

While polluted air affects all of us equally, some of us are more susceptible to its dangers due to various health conditions.

  • Older persons with comorbidity such as heart diseases and lung conditions like COPD and asthma, are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution.
  • Children are more susceptible to the health risks associated with smoke due to their higher risk of lung and heart problems. Children breathe greater air per pound of their body weight than adults because their airways are still growing. Children also frequently engage in physical activity and play outdoors.
  • Expectant moms may be more susceptible to the effects of smoke due to physiological changes during pregnancy, such as increased breathing rates.
  • Inhaling polluted air during pregnancy increases the chance of complications like preterm birth and low birth weight kids.

Reduce your exposure to pollution risks

There are various sources of air pollution such as industrial units, vehicle fumes, crop stubble burning and wild forest fires. Particularly, if you live in rural areas, you need to prepare for seasonal issues such as crop stubble burning and wild forest fires.

  • Be prepared for forest fires by checking local reports on air pollution data. Check for smoke-related news or health advisories for your neighborhood given by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI). Outside icon Pay attention to the public’s health messaging regarding safety precautions.
  • Refer to regional visibility manuals. Some monitors count the number of airborne particles in some communities. Some states and localities in the southwest United States have regulations that tell residents whether they can see far enough to tell whether there are high amounts of particles in the air.
  • If you’re told to stay indoors, keep the air as clean as possible. Close all windows and doors. To keep indoor smoke from entering, use an air conditioner while keeping the fresh-air input closed and the filter clean. Go to a recognized shelter away from the impacted region, if you don’t have an air conditioning unit and it is too warm to stay inside with windows closed.
  • Steer clear of activities that worsen indoor pollution such as gas stoves, fireplaces, and candle burning, which can all increase air pollution. Similarly, cigarette smoking increases air pollution much further.
  • If you have asthma or a similar lung condition, listen to your doctor’s or other healthcare provider’s recommendations regarding medications and your respiratory management plan. If you are experiencing respiratory difficulties, you might want to evacuate. If your symptoms get worse, consult your doctor right away.
  • If you’re expecting, keep getting prenatal care. If the clinic is closed, ask your healthcare practitioner where you can get prenatal / delivery services.
  • Dust masks are not a sufficient form of protection. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks, frequently seen at hardware stores, are made to catch big particles like sawdust. Better use N95/KN95 face masks that are capable of shielding your lungs from tiny particles present in smoke from wildfires.
  • Get out of the wildfires’ path. Pay attention to the local authority’s guidance on where and when to evacuate. Only bring what is necessary. Prepare for heavy traffic and take the recommended evacuation routes—others may be blocked.
  • Take precautions when putting out bushfire data. As you work on cleanup, you can be exposed to ash and other fire-related byproducts that could hurt your eyes, hair, or skin, cause coughing, and other health problems.

Safety precautions after wildfire

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Potential health risks may remain after houses, sheds, or other structures or structures burn in bushfire data. These include smoldering coals, falling or sharp objects, frayed electrical lines, gas leaks, and weak walls.

  • After a bushfire, inspect your property while wearing protective gear. Check that you are aware of the risks and take precautions to safeguard your health and safety before returning to your property.
  • Wear disposable overalls with long sleeves and pants, heavy-duty work gloves, a P2 face mask (or N95/KN95), and sturdy boots.
  • Wear gloves, coveralls, and face masks in a garbage bag before leaving the property. After discarding contaminated clothing and items, wash your hands. Before wearing them again, shoes need to be cleaned.
  • Hazardous substances that need to be taken care of after a bushfire include: ashes, particularly from burned treated timbers (like copper-chrome-arsenic, asbestos, etc.); LPG gas cylinders; medicine; farm chemicals; other general chemicals (like cleaning supplies); metal and other leftovers from burned home appliances; and dust.
  • If asbestos was utilized in your building, or if CCA-treated wood was burned, it is dangerous to spread ash around your property.
  • Do not walk or drive over a septic tank if you have one since it might have been damaged in the fire.
  • Following a blaze, heat-affected food or fire-damaged food items should never be eaten. Perishable goods stored in the refrigerator can be spoilt after power outages. So all stored foods need to be disposed of.
  • Bushfires produce large volumes of ash so the water in your tank may have been contaminated by ash, debris, or dead animals. Never feed water to animals or consume it if it tastes, looks, or smells strange.
Author bio – A guest blogger has contributed this advertorial

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