How to protect yourself from Canadian Hashim smoke

Smoke of Canadian forest fires sent a blanket of smoke over the Middle West in the United States this week. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued air quality alerts Minnesota and WeskonsenLikewise, Iowa, Illinois Michigan, and parts of Nebraska and Missouri.

Munyabolis and Chicago remained Sterile A list of the top 10 main cities with the worst air quality on Saturday morning, and the MINISTA pollution agency (MPCA) has paid air quality alert to the state throughout the weekend.

Forest fires have become increasingly common in Canada and the United States. In 2023, More than 6000 fires destroy 37 million acres From the lands in Canada alone and the past two years ranked among the worst seasons of forest fires in the country’s history, according to Satellite Service, Environment and National Environmental Information. Parts of states such as Texas, Oregon and California suffer from forest fires twice as they did in the 1970s, according to a study she conducted American Progress Center.

Behind this height, climate change, which increases the frequency and forest fires, specifically in the northern and moderate forest areas. The year 2023 and 2024 were the two most registered years, they also saw “Unprecedentedly high” Increases in fires that harm global forests.

Read more: We live in the era of fire. It will only get worse

“Because of climate change, the fact that we started to see [wildfires] “We need to think hard about how we can try to prevent forests, but we have become a very active field of research,” said Dr. Milan Han, a spokesman for the American Lung Association earlier this year in the wake of Los Angeles fires. [also] Think about how we can protect the air quality better to move forward, in general, because it has become a growing health concern-and not just one time event. “

Experts look at the smoke masses produced by these fires as a major threat to public health. Bad air quality can be devastating to a person’s health, especially the weak population. The effects can be felt immediately, He says centers for diseases (CDC), with symptoms including coarse sore throat, coughing, trouble breathing, and chest pain. Those who suffer from asthma, heart disease, chronic conditions, and those pregnant women are especially exposed.

As the smoke resulting from forest fires can travel far and wide – sometimes Until thousands of miles Away from the fire, I grew up in – and as climate scientists Participate in the frequency of these events You will increase, here is the best way to protect yourself.

Stay inside

One of the best ways to protect itself is when the air quality exacerbates the time to reduce the breathing pollutants in the air, and the transmission of events inside.

This is especially important for those who suffer from asthma, heart, or lung, as well as the elderly and children, who should consider re -tightening events at home and reducing “heavy effort”, according to the Wisconsin natural resource management.

If you go abroad, be ready

If you have to go out, experts recommend using a face mask to reduce pollutants entering your body, including by wearing a N95 or KN95 mask. If you buy a mask, recommended, according to The Ministry of Health in Washington, To find the institute accredited by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The mask should close your mouth, chin and nose for properly protecting from pollutants.

They say, the masks are working better, on clean milky faces, and should be thrown after breathing becomes difficult, or the mask is damaged.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) It also recommends Find a mask with two tapes that suit your head, not those who have one belt, or with two tapes roaming in the ears.

“The breathing system is a (mask) device that covers your nose and your mouth, and is tightly proportional to your face, and it can filter smoke or ash molecules before you breathe,” says Environmental Protection Agency.