The Times Australia
Mirvac Harbourside
The Times World News

.

How to protect yourself against bushfire smoke this summer

  • Written by C Raina MacIntyre, Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
How to protect yourself against bushfire smoke this summer

It’s bushfire season. So you might be wondering about the best way to protect yourself from the health impacts of smoke.

Guidelines suggest wearing respirators[1], avoiding[2] outdoor air and avoiding vigorous activity outdoors. Many people use the cheaper option of a surgical mask during bushfires. But there has never been a clinical trial to measure how well these interventions work. That’s why our group is looking into it[3].

In the meantime, here’s what you can do to reduce your exposure to bushfire smoke.

Read more: It's summer, so bushfires and COVID collide. 3 ways one affects the other[4]

Who’s at risk?

Australia’s 2019/2020 summer bushfires resulted in more than 400 estimated deaths[5] and thousands of hospitalisations from smoke exposure.

You don’t have to have a lung condition to suffer the ill-effects of bushfire smoke[6]. Breathing difficulties, eye irritation and heart attacks are among the well-documented[7] short-term impacts.

But people with asthma, emphysema[8], chronic bronchitis and other lung conditions are particularly susceptible to smoke exposure, triggering asthma attacks and breathing difficulties.

This was the typical pattern we saw during our own research[9], conducted during the same bushfire season. We showed smoke exposure caused ill health in people with and without existing lung disease.

However, we found people under 65 had a higher risk of ill health after smoke exposure than older people. This may be because younger people tend to go outdoors more during bushfires.

Read more: How does bushfire smoke affect our health? 6 things you need to know[10]

1. Be prepared

If you live in an area potentially affected by bushfire smoke, the first thing to do is to get an early alert about fires and smoke using one or more apps. Examples include, the Fires Near Me app[11] or the AirRater app[12] for air quality.

You can also use a visual method[13] to assess air quality. This involves identifying a landmark on the horizon about 5 kilometres away and noting if it becomes hazy. This would be the trigger for using a respirator or avoiding outdoor air.

2. Stay inside if it’s safe

Try to avoid exposure[14] to smoke, avoiding outside air and staying indoors if it is practical and safe to do so. Vigorous exercise outdoors can be dangerous as it results in greater smoke inhalation and risks to the heart and lungs.

Close all doors and windows, set air-conditioning to recirculate, and seal gaps under or around doors, windows and wall vents with towels, blankets or plastic.

Unfortunately, these instructions are the opposite of what to do if there is COVID at home, when you would want fresh air in the house. If that is the case, wear a mask indoors in common areas and social distance from the person with COVID.

Read more: Our buildings aren't made to keep out bushfire smoke. Here's what you can do[15]

3. Wear a respirator (not just a surgical mask)

Most people who need to go outside during a bushfire can use some type of disposable respirator to filter the smokey air.

You will have seen people wearing these P2, P3 or N95 respirators[16] to protect themselves and others from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.

These and other types of disposable respirators[17] filter very fine particles and fit closely around the face. Choose one with a full band around the back of the head (rather than ear loops) as these provide a better fit.

Some disposable respirators have valves, which means they filter inhaled air but allow you to exhale more comfortably. This option may help people with asthma or lung disease to breathe more comfortably. If you have COVID, though, wearing a respirator with a valve does not reduce the risk of you infecting others, because the air you breathe out through the valve is unfiltered and contaminated.

Respirators will filter particles larger than 0.3 microns[18] (micrometres). However, they may not filter smaller particles contained in smoke, which is why avoiding outside air is still important.

People who live in bushfire-prone areas may want to consider a type of respirator they can clean and re-use when needed, known as an elastomeric respirator[19]. Their filters need to be changed at specified intervals.

Elastomeric face mask
An elastomeric mask, such as this one, can be re-used. Shutterstock[20]

If you have trouble getting one of the mentioned respirators, you can use a disposable KN95 respirator[21]. However, these have ear loops and do not fit well around the face, so air can leak through.

Surgical masks are not likely to protect you because they are so loose. But medical-grade ones provide good filtering. For this to be effective, wear one with a mask brace or clip[22] to provide a better fit and to help prevent air leaking in from the sides.

In a nutshell

Be prepared by downloading an app to monitor bushfires and air quality near you, and stocking up on good quality respirators ahead of time if you can. You can re-use these if they are not visibly soiled or damaged.

Staying out of the smoke is also important, particularly if you have asthma, emphysema and other lung disease. Young people may be less aware of the health effects of smoke exposure, and even people without lung disease can experience ill health due to smoke.

Do you have asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis? Do you live in an area in Australia affected by bushfires or bushfire smoke (including metropolitan areas)? You may be eligible to be part of our study[23] into the best way to protect yourself from bushfire smoke.

References

  1. ^ respirators (files-em.em.vic.gov.au)
  2. ^ avoiding (www.health.nsw.gov.au)
  3. ^ looking into it (kirby.unsw.edu.au)
  4. ^ It's summer, so bushfires and COVID collide. 3 ways one affects the other (theconversation.com)
  5. ^ more than 400 estimated deaths (www.theguardian.com)
  6. ^ ill-effects of bushfire smoke (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ well-documented (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ emphysema (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ own research (www.atsjournals.org)
  10. ^ How does bushfire smoke affect our health? 6 things you need to know (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ Fires Near Me app (www.rfs.nsw.gov.au)
  12. ^ AirRater app (airrater.org)
  13. ^ visual method (iser.med.unsw.edu.au)
  14. ^ avoid exposure (files-em.em.vic.gov.au)
  15. ^ Our buildings aren't made to keep out bushfire smoke. Here's what you can do (theconversation.com)
  16. ^ respirators (theconversation.com)
  17. ^ other types of disposable respirators (www.addler.com.au)
  18. ^ larger than 0.3 microns (www.aiha.org)
  19. ^ an elastomeric respirator (healthcareworkersaustralia.com)
  20. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  21. ^ KN95 respirator (breathesafeair.com)
  22. ^ mask brace or clip (www.insider.com)
  23. ^ our study (kirby.unsw.edu.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/how-to-protect-yourself-against-bushfire-smoke-this-summer-154720

Mirvac Harbourside

Times Magazine

YepAI Joins Victoria's AI Trade Mission to Singapore for Big Data & AI World Asia 2025

YepAI, a Melbourne-based leader in enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, announced today...

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an onli...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beau...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data anal...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right c...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in t...

The Times Features

Macquarie Bank Democratises Agentic AI, Scaling Customer Innovation with Gemini Enterprise

Macquarie’s Banking and Financial Services group (Macquarie Bank), in collaboration with Google ...

Do kids really need vitamin supplements?

Walk down the health aisle of any supermarket and you’ll see shelves lined with brightly packa...

Why is it so shameful to have missing or damaged teeth?

When your teeth and gums are in good condition, you might not even notice their impact on your...

Australian travellers at risk of ATM fee rip-offs according to new data from Wise

Wise, the global technology company building the smartest way to spend and manage money internat...

Does ‘fasted’ cardio help you lose weight? Here’s the science

Every few years, the concept of fasted exercise training pops up all over social media. Faste...

How Music and Culture Are Shaping Family Road Trips in Australia

School holiday season is here, and Aussies aren’t just hitting the road - they’re following the musi...

The Role of Spinal Physiotherapy in Recovery and Long-Term Wellbeing

Back pain and spinal conditions are among the most common reasons people seek medical support, oft...

Italian Lamb Ragu Recipe: The Best Ragù di Agnello for Pasta

Ciao! It’s Friday night, and the weekend is calling for a little Italian magic. What’s better than t...

It’s OK to use paracetamol in pregnancy. Here’s what the science says about the link with autism

United States President Donald Trump has urged pregnant women[1] to avoid paracetamol except in ...