Coastal Health District officials are asking residents to take precautions to avoid health problems related to the smoky conditions caused by recent wildfires.

Smoke from wildfires can cause coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes, and a runny nose. Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have heart or lung disease, or other pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.

Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Children are more likely to be active outdoors.

Residents can protect themselves by using the following precautions:

• Stay inside with windows and doors shut.

• Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car.

• If you do not have an air conditioner and if it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.

• Avoid cooking and vacuuming, which can increase pollutants indoors.

• Avoid physical exertion.

• Keep at least a five-day supply of medication on hand.

• Keep airways moist by drinking lots of water. Breathing through a warm, wet washcloth can also help relieve dryness.

Use a properly sized high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce breathing problems. A HEPA filter may reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air.

If you have any questions or concerns, call your healthcare provider or your local health department. Contact information for all Coastal Health District health departments can be found at www.gachd.org.


Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan.

Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue. This is important for not only for people with chronic lung or heart disease, but also for individuals who have not been previously diagnosed with such illnesses. Smoke can “unmask” or produce symptoms of such diseases.