Big Idea
- Wildfire smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system
- Wildfire smoke can also worsen chronic heart, lung diseases
- When smoke is present, reduce time spent indoors, use air filters if you can
- Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water
- Read more...
Dry conditions in Yavapai County has increased fire danger in the area.
The Horse Fire started around noon on Thursday in a wilderness area near Crown King. It grew to over 3,500 acres over the first night. Wildfire smoke is visible in the Quad-Cities area. This smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.
Protect yourself from wildfire smoke
- Reduce time spent outdoors when smoke is present.
- Use an indoor high-efficiency air filter (HEPA) or electrostatic precipitator in your home to help create one or more rooms with cleaner air to breathe.
- Set your A/C or heating unit to recycle or recirculate when at home or in your car.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
- Reduce other sources of indoor smoke and dust, including burning cigarettes, candles, gas or propane ranges, wood burning stoves and furnaces, and vacuuming.
- If you have heart or lung disease or respiratory illnesses such as asthma, follow your health care provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.
Who is at greatest risk from wildfire smoke?
- People who have heart or lung diseases, like heart disease, lung disease, or asthma, are at higher risk from wildfire smoke.
- Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke. This may be due to their increased risk of heart and lung diseases.
- Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke. Children’s airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Also, children often spend more time outdoors engaged in activity and play.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office now utilizes CodeRED® as its Emergency Notification System. With this service, we can send messages to residents and businesses within minutes with specific information when an emergency or time-sensitive issue arises. This is an essential service especially during a wildfire. Sign up here: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/A45C10E5EC0F
