Bushfire smoke can affect air quality. It contains fine particles and gases that can be breathed deep into the lungs and may affect health. It is important to minimise your exposure. Children, the elderly, smokers and people with existing heart or lung conditions (including asthma) are more sensitive.
Bushfire smoke
Bushfire smoke can affect your lungs. Many farmers already have sensitive lungs or lung disease because they are regularly exposed to a lot of dust and other particles that affect their lungs. You can be affected by smoke from bushfires even if there is little likelihood the fires will come close to your farm or the days following the fires.
If you have a lung condition like asthma, or a heart condition, you are more likely to be affected by smoke from bushfires. Stay indoors if possible when there is bushfire smoke around your farm, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
If you can’t stay indoors, make sure you take any medication you are on, and wear a ‘P1’ or ‘P2’ protective mask which is properly fitted. Paper dust masks, handkerchiefs or bandannas do not filter out fine particles from smoke and will not protect your lungs.
Even though proper P1 and P2 masks protect you from smoke, they can make it more difficult to breathe. If you do have a medical condition, you should seek medical advice about wearing a mask long before you actually need them.
If you have any breathing problems, seek medical help.
References used for this topic page
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Last reviewed:
28-October-2011
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