Wildfire smoke can:
- Irritate your lungs
- Cause inflammation
- Affect your immune system
- Make you more prone to lung infections (including SARS-CoV-2)
To protect yourself from wildfire smoke:
- Reduce your exposure (limit outdoor exercise when it is smoky outside or choose lower intensity activities)
- Use a portable air cleaner in one or more rooms
- Avoid activities that create more indoor and outdoor air pollution, such as frying foods, sweeping, vacuuming, and using gas-powered appliances.
While masks are extremely helpful in protecting you from contracting COVID, they will not protect you from wildfire smoke. Masks do not catch small, harmful particles in smoke that can harm your health.
Symptoms from smoke exposure & COVID-19
- Dry Cough
- Sore Throat
- Difficulty Breathing
Symptoms of COVID-19 (not related to smoke exposure)
- Fever or chills
- Muscle or body aches
- Diarrhea
If you have questions about your symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
