Information response

                                                                                                                  october 2008 Issue 21




The main component of smoke that affects        and with models for predicting smoke plume        • If your home gets too hot to be
these sensitive populations is particulate      activity.                                           comfortable or is letting in a lot of smoke,
matter; however there is limited evidence                                                           try to take a break at a local building that
                                                The main recommendations to the
as to whether particulate matter produced                                                           is air-conditioned with filtered air; for
                                                general public, taken from a range of state
by bushfires affects susceptible populations                                                        example a library or a shopping centre.
                                                jurisdictions, for behaviour during a smoke
differently from particulate matter produced
                                                or haze event (but not a severe bushfire event,   • Monitor all people for signs of heat stress,
by indoor air pollution, tobacco smoke or
                                                which has a separate set of recommendations         especially in the very young, elderly or
smog.
                                                that encompass the Prepare, Stay and Defend         those who are unwell. These signs include:
                                                or Leave Early policy) include:                     heavy sweating; paleness; muscle cramps;
                                                                                                    tiredness; weakness; headache; dizziness;
The symptoms of smoke                           • Be prepared.
                                                                                                    confusion; nausea; fainting; poor co-
effects
                                                • Anyone with a lung or heart condition             ordination and restlessness.
Fine particles and gases can accumulate in        should ensure that they have at least five
the eyes, nose and lungs and cause a number       days supply of medication available and
of health problems including burning or           follow their treatment plan.
                                                                                                  Do masks help?
itchy eyes, runny nose, sore throat, headache
                                                • People with asthma should adhere to their
and general coughing.                                                                             Ordinary dust masks, surgical masks,
                                                  personal asthma plan.
                                                                                                  handkerchiefs or bandannas are not effective
People with heart disease might experience
                                                • Minimise exercise and physical activity         for filtering out fine particles or gases from
chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of
                                                  outdoors as the increased breathing depth       bushfire smoke, and are therefore limited in
breath or fatigue. People with lung disease
                                                  and rate encourages more fine particles to      the protection they can provide.
may not be able to breathe easily, deeply or
                                                  be inhaled deeper into the lungs.
vigorously and may develop symptoms such                                                          Special masks that have been designed to
as wheezing, coughing, phlegm and chest         • Whilst indoors, close doors and windows         filter out fine particles in dust and smoke are
discomfort.                                       to reduce the entry of smoke.                   readily available in hardware stores. They
                                                                                                  must be rated P1 or P2 and should fit well
                                                • If you have an air conditioner, turn it on
                                                                                                  by sealing closely against the face to prevent
                                                  to ‘recycle’ or ‘recirculate’ to reduce smoke
Mitigation measures                                                                               leakage.
                                                  being drawn indoors.
Current practices to reduce the impact of                                                         However, people with beards or small faces
                                                • Reduce other sources of indoor air
bushfire smoke on public health include                                                           (children) cannot get a good fit. They are
                                                  pollution such as cigarette smoke,
pre-bushfire preventive measures such                                                             often hot and uncomfortable to wear and the
                                                  woodstove smoke, burning candles, using
as prescribed burning and enhancing                                                               filter system makes breathing more difficult,
                                                  unflued gas appliances or stirring up fine
community education.                                                                              even with exhaust valves.
                                                  dust with vacuuming or sweeping.
These information programs focus on fire
                                                • If there is a break in the smoky conditions,
prevention, management and general safety
                                                  take the opportunity to air out the house
and adopting personal protective behaviours
                                                  to improve indoor air quality.
during a smoke episode. During a bushfire
event the impact of smoke on local              • If you are in a vehicle, close the windows
communities can be reduced by managing            and use the air conditioner on recirculate
the smoke with fire suppression techniques        mode.



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