SAN DIEGO — Southern California is starting to see more wildfires as we get into the hotter summer months. People see the fire and big flames but don't always think about how the smoke might effect them.
"The smoke can take you out well before the flames do. It's important to have a plan," said Thomas Shoots, captain and public information officer at CAL Fire.
He recommends having an N-95 mask in your go-bag. If you don't have a mask you can use a cotton t-shirt to cover your mouth and nose. Goggles can also be helpful to protect your eyes.
"The biggest challenge we see with some of these large fires is these smoke plumes will stay for days at a time really impacting the area. It might not be as big a deal for people that aren't sensitive to the smoke but some people are and that's really concerning," he said.
Smoke inhalation can cause an itchy throat, coughing, stinging eyes and headaches.
"If you have asthma and you get that type of trigger that type of irritant trigger can turn on your asthma make you wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness," said Sharp Coronado physician Dr. Asha Devereaux.
Long-term impacts from wildfire smoke exposure can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and even lung cancer. These fires can burn for days or even weeks.
"Following the air quality index is going to be a good indicator of where you're at at least in the big picture," Shoots said.
When it comes to your home, it's important to keep your windows and doors shut. Set your air conditioner to recirculate to reduce smoke from coming inside.
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