Why Wildfire Preparedness is Important for Your Health in 2025

Wildfire preparedness is important for your health because

1. Wildfires are getting common now and you should be aware of how to safely evacuate from your home and keep you and your family healthy during this time.
2. People with lung conditions and children are at more risk for developing health complications during wildfires.

Wildfire Preparedness is important for your health:

Why are Wildfire cases increasing?

Climate change is one of the major causes of increasing cases of wildfires.

Many people are making houses in areas that are prone to wildfire.

How to prepare for wildfire-

1. Prepare your home and your landscape in a way to prevent the spread of fire.
2. Get familiar with various routes in your community and various routes to escape in case of emergency.
3. Find shelter homes in your escape route to use during an emergency.
4. Develop a smoke-free room in your home to prevent entry of smoke and ashes in your room in case of wildfire.
5. Keep track of fire by following your local government news.
6. If someone is suffering from a chronic disease that requires daily medication, then all the medicine should be kept in a safe place and in adequate amounts.
7. Respirators that are approved by health authorities should be kept handy in case of wildfire.

Who is at increased health risk?

Wildfire smoke can reach far away from the area where the fire is burning and this smoke is harmful to everyone but it is especially harmful for

1. Children
2. People with chronic disease like Asthma, COPD, Heart disease
3. Pregnant women
4. Responders like officers of the fire department and police department.

Wildfire health effects-

Composition of wildfire smoke-

It is a mixture of gases and fine particles burning from trees, plants, buildings, and other particles.

Symptoms of wildfire smoke inhalation-

Wildfire health effects can produce various symptoms due to smoke inhalation which include-

1. Coughing
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Headaches
4. Irritation of eyes
5. Running nose
6. Scratching sensation in the throat
7. Tiredness
8. Chest pain
9. Fast heartbeat
10. Wheezing- Sound produced while breathing

How to care for the health of high-risk groups during wildfire-

Care for Children-

Children above 2 years and older can wear a mask or respirators.

Choosing a respirator or mask of appropriate size is important which covers the nose and mouth properly and does not impair the vision of the child.

Children will remove the mask if it is not comfortable.

Always be attentive towards children and look for any signs and symptoms of smoke inhalation.

If any symptom appears then call the doctor immediately.

If the child is suffering from asthma or any disease then keep a minimum of 7 days of medicine in advance and in a safe place which you can reach quickly in case of emergency.

Always check if schools are open or closed before sending children to the school.

Care for chronic disease patients-

Patients with chronic diseases like Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, and Heart conditions should take extra precautions.

Always keep extra medicine to use in case of emergency.

Inform about the medicine to the family members or people living with you, because in case of an emergency, they can give you the medicine.

Always consult your doctor in case of emergency or if you feel any discomfort due to smoke from the fire.

Care for pregnant women-

Pregnant women should take extra precautions as smoke can harm them as well as the baby.

Always consult your doctor in case of any discomfort due to fire smoke.

Know the signs of labor or early labor, and contact the doctor if you experience any of the labor signs or symptoms.

What to do after wildfire-

1. Do not return home until you are informed by the government or local authority to do so.
2. Air quality can remain bad even after the end of the fire and hence it is important to check the air quality before going back.
3. Protect yourself from the ashes and wash it from the skin as soon as you get in contact with the ashes.
4. Always listen to local government news and weather updates to get the latest updates about the fire and air quality.
5. These fires can cause financial damage to many people and sometimes these burdens can lead to mental stress. So it is important to get help from your health care providers if you get in such a situation.