DETROIT, MI. – (July 26, 2023) –
This week, areas throughout the Eastern United States, including parts of
Michigan, are being impacted by poor air quality. Large wildfires in
Canada have produced significant smoke that is moving toward our area, which is
likely to cause elevated unhealthy fine particle readings on the Air
Quality Index. The air quality in certain parts of the state is currently listed as “unhealthy”, which means that some members of the general public may experience health effects while members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
The
American Lung Association offers these six tips for people to avoid lung
irritation and health complications due to increased air pollution:
- Stay indoors. People living close to the fire-stricken areas should
follow guidance from local authorities, and remain indoors to reduce
breathing smoke, ashes and other pollution in the area if instructed to do
so.
- Protect the air in your home. Keep doors, windows and fireplace
dampers shut and preferably with clean air circulating through air
conditioners on the recirculation setting. You can also watch this video on how to create a clean room in your house.
- Keep an eye on symptoms. Higher levels of smoke in some areas
can make breathing more difficult. If you are experiencing symptoms that
concern you, contact your healthcare provider.
- Take precautions for kids. Extra precaution should be taken for children, who
are more susceptible to smoke. Their lungs are still developing, and they
breathe in more air (and consequently more pollution) for their size than
adults.
- Don’t count on a dust mask. Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large
particles, and cloth facial coverings will not help. They still allow the
more dangerous smaller particles to pass through. Special, more expensive
dust masks with an N-95 or N-100 filter will filter out the damaging fine
particles, but may not fit properly, are not made for children or adults
with facial hair and are difficult for people with lung disease to use.
- Ask for help. The American Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA is staffed by nurses and respiratory therapists and is a free resource to answer any questions about the lungs, lung disease and lung health, including how to protect yourself during wildfires.
-
More information about wildfires
and lung health can be found at Lung.org/wildfires. To
request an interview with a representative from the American Lung Association,
please contact Janye Killelea via email at Janye.Killelea@Lung.org or call
(312) 940-7624.
###
About the American Lung
Association
The
American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by
improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy,
and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four
strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to
improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and
to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung
Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a
Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call
1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
