By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
As wildfires continue to rage across the Pacific Northwest, the resulting smoke poses severe health risks, especially for children with asthma. Dr. Nicole Johnson, a pediatrician at the University of Washington, highlights the growing danger of wildfire smoke and provides critical advice for protecting vulnerable children.
“People are chronically exposed to wildfire smoke, and it will cause chronic changes in their lungs that make asthma more severe,” says Johnson. “Children do feel the impact more of wildfire smoke or tend to be more sensitive to anything affecting the lungs because of their body size. They are breathing in more air than an adult does, in comparison to their body size.”
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition where the airways narrow, swell, and produce excess mucus, leading to difficulty in breathing. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4.5 million children under 18 years old are affected by asthma globally. Early recognition of asthma symptoms is vital for effective management, particularly during wildfire season.
“A child that is having an asthma attack, they look short of breath. Even if they are relaxing, you might see them breathing heavier than typical,” says Johnson. “Pausing during a normal conversation, taking extra breaths, a ceaseless kind of hacking cough that tends to be worse at night, and high-pitched wheezing on exhale are all common childhood asthma symptoms.”
Shatoya Banks, a pediatric medical assistant at the UW Primary Care Clinic and a mother of a child with asthma, says that she has faced many challenges parenting a child with asthma.
“My son was born at 24 weeks, so we knew early on that he was very high risk [for asthma],” says Banks. “Trying to figure out my sons triggers, keeping him as healthy as possible with everything going on in the world, while at the same time trying to allow him to be an 8-year-old kid has been challenging.”
According to Dr. Johnson, wildfire smoke can affect people with asthma is two ways. One, the smoke increases harmful particulate matter in the air and, two, it elevates ozone levels, both of which can affect air quality, your health, and trigger asthma attacks.
“Wildfire smoke does two different things. It increases the particulate matter in the air, which are really fine particles that make their way into our lungs, and it increases ozone levels,” says Johnson. “So, if the number on the air quality index starts to get into the unsafe for sensitive groups level, then people with asthma need to take extra care of their children or themselves.”
Banks says the affect that wildfire smoke can have on people with asthma should not be taken lightly.
“I have seen plenty of times where wildfire smoke was causing issues for a child,” says Banks. “Either in my clinic or when I help out at the urgent care, you can definitely see how it does affect those with lung issues, and it can be pretty scary.”
While there is an emphasis on precautions as it relates to people with chronic diseases during the presence of wildfires, Dr. Johnson is quick to point out that the danger extends beyond people with asthma. Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can increase the risk of lung cancer, making it essential for everyone to limit time outdoors when air quality is poor.
“If you must go outside when the air quality is unhealthy, it is a good idea to wear a N-95 mask because those types of masks can keep those very fine particles from entering your lungs,” says Johnson. “It is better to go outside in the early part of the day because ozone levels are lower during those times, and if you have to exercise outside, do it away from busy streets because with all the traffic that also puts extra types of particles into the air that can trigger asthma.”
Dr. Johnson also emphasizes the importance of keeping indoor air clean during wildfire events.
“To prevent asthma attacks, keep your home’s air healthy by closing doors and windows and using air purifiers,” suggests Johnson.
Banks added that when the air quality is extremely bad, she has even more attention on her child, although she keeps in mind that he is a very active 8-year-old boy, so it can be a challenge monitoring his time outdoors.
“I try to limit his time outdoors as much as I can, but I don’t want him to feel so limited,” says Banks. “It is just a matter of teaching him. Notifying his school to be sure they are on alert for him and have his medications ready and available [if necessary].”
For parents of children with asthma, having an Asthma Action Plan is crucial. This written guide helps manage asthma symptoms and attacks by outlining when to administer medication or seek medical treatment.
“Some, but not all children, have asthma action plans, that I recommend parents to take a look at,” says Johnson. “There might be a time when your child is having increased symptoms, and you need to escalate to go to that next step on their asthma action plan, which is usually adding a little bit more medication.”
Dr. Johnson also stresses the importance of awareness—not only of one’s own health conditions but also of those of their children. Understanding how these conditions might be exacerbated by wildfire smoke is key to developing an effective health plan for the entire family.
“I also think that when the community knows about a health risk, and they know about their own families’ conditions, they can plan better. And the other thing to notice, for adulthood conditions, it is equally as dangerous for them,” says Dr. Johnson. “Another thing that people don’t realize is that if you have a heart condition, you are more likely to have a heart attack on those high smog days. So, just kind of knowing about the risks of wildfire smoke and poor air quality in general is important so you can take care of your whole family.”
“I teach my son to learn and look for signs that he is needing his medication at school and at home,” says Banks. “We make sure he is not alone, and if he is at school they use a buddy system for him to go to the office or other areas around the school.”
