Summer is approaching, bringing with it the peak of wildfire season. In recognition of May as Wildfire Awareness Month, the American Lung Association in California is urging Bay Area residents to prepare and take measures to safeguard their health from the effects of wildfires.
The organization highlights that breathing in wildfire smoke can severely impact lung health. "Breathing wildfire smoke can be extremely harmful to the lungs and is unhealthy for everyone to breathe," they note. Certain groups are particularly vulnerable, including children, older adults, pregnant individuals, those with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD, and outdoor workers.
The association emphasizes that protecting lung health should be a key component of any wildfire emergency plan. They provide general recommendations aimed at minimizing exposure to harmful smoke during these events.
For more detailed information on how wildfires affect lung health and further protective measures, residents are encouraged to visit Lung.org/wildfires.
