The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America advised on June 30 that people with asthma should take steps to protect themselves as summer brings increased risks from extreme heat, wildfires, and fireworks. Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at the organization, said, “Summer can be a challenging time for the 28 million people in the U.S. with asthma. Common asthma triggers include air pollution generated from extreme heat as well as from wildfires and fireworks. Monitoring air quality and creating and following an action plan can help people with asthma enjoy the summer season while avoiding these triggers.”
The foundation recommends checking air quality using resources such as AirNow.gov and PurpleAir.com. Understanding color-coded Air Quality Index zones is important; yellow may trigger some individuals’ symptoms, orange is more likely to affect those with asthma, red is unhealthy for sensitive groups including people with asthma, purple is very unhealthy for everyone, and maroon indicates an emergency affecting all health.
AAFA says that individuals should follow a plan to reduce exposure during poor air quality events. This includes monitoring local conditions and taking preventive actions when necessary.
According to AAFA, policymakers can help by considering long-term drought outlooks when approving permits for developments such as data centers in water-stressed areas, because drought increases wildfire risk, which impacts respiratory health.
“Asthma episodes caused by air pollution can lead to increased emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and even death,” Carver said. “People with asthma can use an action plan to reduce their personal risk, and policymakers should take action to protect entire communities.”
Founded in 1953, AAFA describes itself as the oldest and largest non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving lives affected by asthma or allergic diseases through support programs, advocacy efforts, education initiatives, research activities, online patient communities, regional chapters networked across the country, and community collaborations providing practical information services.
