If you live near the wildfires, you know how bad the air quality is right now. What you might not know is that even if the air looks clear where you are, it could still contain ash and debris that is harmful to your health. If you have young children, the poor air quality can be even more harmful for their delicate lungs. Until the air has cleared, you need to take special precautions to keep your kids safe, and prevent serious breathing complications. Here are some instructions you should follow until the fires have been extinguished and the air quality is restored.
Keep Your Kids Indoors
When you have little kids, it can be difficult to keep them indoors, especially when the weather is nice. Unfortunately, allowing your kids to go out and play while the wildfires are out of control can put their health in jeopardy. While the fires are still burning, keep your kids indoors. Find lots of fun activities for them to enjoy while they're not able to go outdoors.
Close the Windows
When the weather is mild, it's nice to open the windows and let the fresh air in. Unfortunately, now that there are so many wildfires burning, the air isn't fresh enough to let into your home. To protect your little ones, and yourself, make sure you keep the windows closed, especially when the wind is blowing in your direction. A good rule of thumb is to keep the windows closed whenever you can smell even the faintest hint of smoke in the air. Once the fires have been extinguished, you'll be able to open your windows again.
Install an Air Purifier
If your little kids suffer from allergies, asthma, or other breathing-related disorders, it's important to install an air purifier while the wildfires are burning. The air purifier will remove the smoke and ensure that the air inside your home is safe for your child to breathe. In addition to the air purifier, it's also a good idea to change the furnace filter more frequently during the wildfires. If the fires are nearby, try to change your filters at least once a week.
Get to the Doctor
While the wildfires are burning, it's important that you pay attention to your child's breathing. Breathing problems can develop quickly during a wildfire. If your child begins to wheeze, develops shortness of breath, begins coughing uncontrollably, or you notice that their skin color is changing, you should contact your pediatrician as soon as possible. Your child may require urgent medical attention.
To learn more, contact a pediatric clinic like Advocare Haddon Pediatric Group at Haddon Heights.
Share11 December 2017
My name is Dan and this is my blog. I am a recently singled father of three that is learning everything about caring for my kids as I go along. Before my wife passed, she was the one that took care of the kids when they were sick or injured, so I had a lot of learning to do and I had to do it as quickly as possible. I got together with some of the parents from my kids' school and they helped out quite a bit. I created my blog for two reasons - to keep my facts straight and to help other parents learn what I have struggled to learn.