Protection against wildfire smoke starts now

With several large wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest and Washington under both a drought emergency proclamation and a state of emergency due to high risk of more fires, we should all be prepared on how to deal with wildfire smoke.

UW Medicine Pulmonologist Dr. Cora Sack says you shouldn't wait for the sky to turn hazy.

“Have a plan for what to do if the days get smoky,” says Sack. Knowing where you can go to get safe air quality, what to do to prepare your home, and even speaking with your doctor about what to do if you're experiencing any health effects are all steps you can take now, according to Sack.

When smoke is in the air, monitor yourself for these symptoms, which are all signs to get to cleaner air indoors:

• Burning or itchy eyes
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Nausea