Should I wear a smoke mask from wildfires? See tips

Sao Paulo and other regions have seen an intensification of fires in the last week. The Ministry of Health orients the population on the issue

In addition to combat actions fires that are occurring in several regions of the country, the population must be educated on how to protect themselves and avoid, when possible, exposure to pollutants and the intense smoke and fog caused by the fires. This Sunday, 25, Brasiliait came out covered in smoke from the fires in other regions. The same phenomenon has been recorded in other capitals of the Central-West, such as Goianiaand the southeast, like Belo Horizonte.

Among the recommendations of Ministry of Health are increasing their intake of water and fluids, as a measure to keep the respiratory membranes moist and, therefore, better protected. Exposure time should be reduced as much as possible and stay in a closed and ventilated place, if possible with air conditioning or air purifiers.

To reduce the entry of external pollution, during periods of high concentrations of particles, doors and windows should be kept closed. Physical activities should be avoided during hours of high concentration of air pollutants and between noon and 4 pm, when ozone concentrations are highest.

• AND The use of masks is also recommended surgical grade, cloths, scarves or bandanas to reduce exposure to coarse particles, especially for populations living near fire areas. The measure reduces upper airway discomfort.
• Respirator type masks N95, PFF2 or P100 They are suitable for reducing the inhalation of fine particles.

The recommendations must be followed by the entire population and attention must be doubled in children under 5 years, in the elderly over 60 years and in pregnant women.

At the sign of respiratory symptoms or other health incidents, the record indicates the immediate search for medical care.

“People with cardiac, respiratory, immunological conditions, among others, should consult with their physician to update their treatment plan, keep medications and medical supplies available in case of acute crisis, seek medical care if they experience crisis symptoms, and assess the need and safety of temporarily leaving the area affected by fire seasonality,” he added.

Under the coordination of the Ministry of Health, monitoring of areas affected by biomass combustion is one of the fields of activity of the Environmental Health and Air Quality Surveillance Service (VIGIAR) and the National Situation Room for Climate Emergency in Health.

The data from this monitoring is sent weekly by the Ministry of Health to the States and the Federal District in the Queimadas Report, with guidelines to avoid exposing the population to adverse conditions.

See health recommendations during fire season

• Increased water and fluid intake to keep respiratory membranes moist and therefore better protected;
• Reduce exposure time to smoke;
• Stay indoors in a ventilated place, if possible with air conditioning or air purifiers;
• Keep doors and windows closed to reduce the entry of external pollution, especially during periods of high particle concentrations;
• Physical activities should be avoided during hours of high air pollutant concentration and between midday and 4:00 pm.

/WITH AGENCY BRAZIL

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.