| As the summertime temperatures rise across the | | | | and windows shut. If you have one, use the air |
| United States, the incidence of wildfires also begins | | | | conditioner in the air recirculating mode to keep from |
| to soar, causing severe problems with air quality. | | | | bringing in the outside polluted air. Use an air purifier |
| Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases | | | | or filter if you have one. Check into buying one |
| and fine particulate matter in the air. When smoke | | | | before fire season starts! Don't use an ozone air |
| gets into the eyes and lungs, it can cause itching and | | | | purifier as it may make your asthma worse. If you |
| burning of the eyes, coughing, wheezing, or tightness | | | | must go outside, avoid exercising or strenuous |
| of the chest or shortness of breath. A scratchy | | | | activity. Keep young children inside and forget about |
| throat, headaches, or severe fatigue may also occur. | | | | mowing the lawn! If you live in a fire-prone area, you |
| Children, the elderly, and those with underlying chronic | | | | might want to always keep extra non-perishable food |
| heart and lung diseases may experience more | | | | on hand at all times so you don't have to go out on |
| symptoms at a lower smoke level, so extra | | | | bad air quality days. |
| precautions need to be taken. | | | | 5. Leave the area. If you know you are particularly |
| 1. Check the air quality in your area frequently. Your | | | | sensitive to smoke or if your symptoms are |
| local news channel or are excellent resources. When | | | | worsening, it may be best to relocate with a friend |
| the air quality begins to deteriorate, appropriate | | | | or relative in another area temporarily. |
| measures can be taken. | | | | 6. Have an asthma action plan. Talk to your doctor |
| 2. Check your peak flowmeter reading daily. Often | | | | ahead of time about an asthma action plan so you |
| those with chronic lung diseases have trouble | | | | know exactly what to do if your symptoms or peak |
| recognizing when their breathing is getting worse until | | | | flow meter readings begin to worsen. |
| it becomes quite severe. Peak flowmeters can alert | | | | 7. Don't bother with dust masks. Dust masks only |
| you to subtle changes and help you take early action. | | | | prevent you from breathing in large particles such as |
| 3. Always keep at least one week's worth of asthma | | | | sawdust. It won't help prevent you from breathing in |
| medications on hand. It's a bad time to find out that | | | | the tiny particles found in smoke. |
| your inhaler is empty in the middle of an asthma | | | | 8. Drink lots of water. This will help prevent the dry |
| attack on a smoky day when you shouldn't go out | | | | air from further aggravating your lungs and throat. |
| anyway! | | | | Taking these simple precautions can help asthmatics |
| 4. Stay inside as much as possible. Keep the doors | | | | breathe easier and possibly even save lives! |