The Washington State Department of Health is encouraging those in areas affected by wildfire smoke to take precautions to protect themselves from poor air quality, according to a department press release.
Those steps include visiting the Washington Smoke Blog or contacting your regional clean air agency, staying indoors, closing windows and doors, keeping indoor air clean, using fans or air conditioners when it gets hot, going to a library or mall if your home is hot and without air conditioning, and making sure to stay hydrated.
Contact a health care provider if you have specific health concerns. Smoke from wildfires can increase health risks, especially for babies, pregnant women, children and seniors, according to the release. Breathing smoky air can cause watery eyes, coughing, chest pain and asthma attacks.
The DOH website can be a helpful resource: www.doh.wa.gov.
