Wildfire Smoke Causes Health Concerns Amid Coronavirus

GIG HARBOR, WA – Wildfire smoke is affecting the air quality in Pierce County and is expected to continue for several days, as health officials remind residents to adhere to coronavirus safety precautions.

As fire crews work to contain the wildfires and protect residents, Washington Department of Health officials are reminding people to be safe in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic by staying indoors with just members of their household.

"It is much easier to spread COVID-19 indoors than it is outdoors," health officials said in Thursday's statewide coronavirus update.

Smoke in the air can make people more susceptible to respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, so residents are advised to delay get-togethers until the air quality is good enough for people to be comfortably outside.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency on Friday afternoon announced air quality conditions were unhealthy for everyone and could reach very unhealthy levels for everyone by late afternoon.

Residents in areas with poor air quality are also advised to avoid physical activity such as walks, jogs and yard work until air quality improves.

Keeping indoor air clean can also help reduce the risk of respiratory illness. Residents can do this by keeping windows and doors closed to reduce the intake of smoke and improving filtration of indoor air. If you have an air conditioner, turn it on and set it to re-circulate. If possible, use a HEPA air cleaner.

It is important to keep houses "tight" by applying weather stripping around doors and windows. Weather stripping includes v-strips, foam tape and door sweeps, all of which can be purchased at local hardware stores.

While wearing a cloth face covering will not help with smoke inhalation, it will continue to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

The people who are most at-risk for respiratory issues due to poor air quality include:

• People with heart disease or lung disease
• Adults over age 65
• Pregnant women
• Children and infants
• Diabetics
• Smokers
• People living with obesity
• People with respiratory infections, like COVID-19

Sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects from poor air quality, such as worsening heart or lung disease, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, coughing, and eye and sinus irritation, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

According to Seattle and King County public health staff, the wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can be breathed into the lungs, where they can act as respiratory tract irritants. These can even get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation throughout the body.

The staff suggests creating a DIY air cleaner using a box fan and a filter. This air cleaner is not designed for continuous use, which means it will need to be turned off when people are not home, but it is effective enough to clean out the air in a room in a matter of minutes.

It is important to note that heat can be a serious health hazard, so if your home becomes too hot, it is better to open a window to cool down the home even if it allows in some smoke.