With Australia facing perhaps it's worst bushfire season ever, Melburnians are having to get used to days of poor and even hazardous air quality, which have obvious negative effects on health.
Symptoms of smoke exposure include eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing and wheezing, sneezing, congestion and shortness of breath. This can lead to asthma being triggered and can worsen heart disease.
When conditions are smoky
You can check the EPA’s website to find out what the air quality is like in Brighton or any other area.
If air quality is very poor or hazardous (with visibility of less than 1.5km), everyone should generally avoid going outside and avoid prolonged or heavy physical activity.
In smoky conditions:
shut windows and doors until the smoke clears;
switch your air conditioner to ‘recirculate’, otherwise smoky air from outside will be drawn inside;
if your home or workplace is smoky, visit a friend or go to a large air-conditioned location like a shopping centre or the cinema to take a break from the smoke; and
ensure you look out for people at risk, including children and older people.
People sensitive to air pollution
People most likely to be sensitive to air pollution and affected by smoke include:
those with heart or lung conditions, including asthma;
pregnant women;
children under 14; and
people over 65.
When air quality is poor to hazardous, ensure you follow your treatment plan if you have a heart or lung condition, and/or follow your asthma action plan.
See your GP if you’re concerned about symptoms, and call 000 if you experience chest tightness or difficulty breathing.
EPA’s website
The EPA's website has more tips for dealing with smoke, including information about face masks (as they have limited effectiveness against smoke), how to look after pets in smoky conditions, and how to assess air quality and health risks if you can’t check air quality on their website.
Heat
Smoky conditions often go hand in hand with hot weather, so see our earlier post about staying healthy when it’s hot.