‘My main advice for parents is not to wait’

Shatoya Banks’ mental checklist kicks in when the sky turns orange. Or when she’s planning a family trip, or her son is heading to football practice.

Her son, Isaiah Ansell, has asthma, so he must have what he needs before she leaves for work: Inhaler, check. Asthma medication, check. Indoor activity for an energetic 8-year-old if it’s smoky, too hot or the pollen count is up, check. 

And if Isaiah has difficulty breathing, either at football or wrestling practice, he must call her, his grandmother or aunt — both also have asthma — and go to the emergency room. 

“I think my main advice for parents is not to wait, if they see their kids triggering or under stress,” due to smoke, heat or in some cases, firecrackers, or really any reason, said Banks. She works as a medical assistant at UW Medicine Primary Care at Kent-Des Moines. 

Smoky skies have cleared out of the Puget Sound area for now, but still blanket the Midwest and parts of Eastern Washington and Montana, according to AirNow, a fire and smoke tracker run by the Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations.

Wildfire smoke can be very harmful for adults as well as kids who have asthma, because the particulate matter is so small and can go deep into your lungs, says Dr. Nicole Johnson, a pediatrician at the same Kent-Des Moines clinic, which specializes in childhood asthma. 

“We know that breathing in microparticles found in wildfire smoke is bad for everyone’s health, especially for people with lung and heart conditions,“ Johnson said.

Banks confirmed that children and their worried parents show up more at the clinic when wildfire smoke arrives and when temperatures spike, triggering asthma attacks. 

Banks has always kept an eye on Isaiah’s breathing. Born at 24 weeks with underdeveloped lungs, Isaiah was hospitalized multiple times with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Ironically, the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 and 2021 provided a bit of a respite, Banks said. 

“Once things started opening up though, it started getting worse,” she added. 

To help strengthen his lungs, Banks enrolled Isaiah in sports, including football, wrestling and, most recently, rugby. 

“This has allowed us to see how far he can go,” she said — with the caveat that if smoke arrives, his activities must move inside. 

“He will try to push himself harder, regardless, but as a mom, I know it’s time to say, ’Let’s take a step back.’” 

Banks advised that it helps to know your child’s telltale signs that they might be struggling to breathe, especially if they are too young to talk. If the child is old enough, teach them to recognize and describe their own symptoms. Also, ensure that asthma medications are well-stocked and within reach.

Know what the day’s pollen count is around home or at your destination if you’re going on a trip. Consider keeping notes to track what triggers your child’s asthma, she added. 

“There are little things that you can do,” she said. 

If it gets smoky while on a vacation, leave if you can. If you know your destination is smoky beforehand, cancel your trip, she said. 

Finally, parents shouldn’t second-guess themselves. Look for a child’s signs of distress, and don’t hesitate to respond, Banks advised. 

“Give a call to the doctor or nurse if you’re seeing something that is out of your comfort zone,” she said.

Related:

• Download broadcast-ready soundbites and related multimedia with Shatoya Banks. (Photos in videos courtesy of Shatoya Banks.)
• Download broadcast-ready soundbites and related multimedia with Dr. Nicole Johnson, a pediatrician who talks about the harms of wildfire smoke.

For details about UW Medicine, please visit http://uwmedicine.org/about.