Lung Association Urges Emergency Workers and Returning Residents to Protect Lungs During Aftermath of Devastating LA Fires

As limited areas in Los Angeles begin the difficult process of returning to their neighborhoods and assessing the damage, the American Lung Association in California urges all who return to their properties to protect themselves and their families from ongoing dangers to their lungs.

Whether working on active investigation sites or returning to a surviving structure, the American Lung Association highly recommends wearing a fresh and well-fitting N-95 or N-100 mask, which is a crucial piece of equipment to protect lung health during and after wildfires.

After returning home after a fire, whether your home was damaged in the fire or not, you may come into contact with hazardous materials that have been affected by fire and heat, including arsenic, nickel, lead, and chemicals. If the structure was built before the 1980s, it may also be a source of asbestos, which requires special precautions and possibly professional containment.

The American Lung Association offers these tips to people returning to their homes:

• Be sure the structure or site is safe to visit before arriving. Heed all warnings and guidance from local officials before you try to return. Do not enter a damaged building or site until it has been ruled safe by authorities. Leave immediately if you feel or hear the structure shifting. If you smell gas or chemicals, get away from the site entirely and notify emergency authorities immediately.

• Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning: Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning fuel. It can cause sudden illness and death if you breathe too much of it. Never use generators, power washers, grills, camp stoves, propane, or charcoal burning equipment indoors. Watch for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning for yourself and others in a structure.If anyone feels dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseated, get out of the structure and seek immediate medical help.

• Remove hazardous materials: Chemicals or other dangerous materials may have infiltrated your home, office or even your yard during the disaster. Contact authorities if any hazardous waste materials or containers are seen on your property. Don’t burn any debris or waste, please remove it to a designated disposal area, and always wear protective clothing including heavy duty gloves and an N-95 mask when handling such material.

• Be aware of breathing problems: It is not unusual for people to develop lung problems after major fire incidents, even if they have never had them before. Don’t wait to get medical help if you start having breathing problems such as coughing, wheezing, or feeling short of breath, and any chest tightness or pain. Critical signs of lung distress include fingers or lips turning blue and severe chest pain. Both could be life-threatening, and immediate emergency medical help is necessary upon first signs.

• Don't count on a dust mask: Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, and cloth facial coverings will not help. They still allow the more dangerous smaller particles to pass through. Special, more expensive dust masks with an N-95 or N-100 filter will filter out the damaging fine particles in the air when well fitted to your face.

Those unable to return to their properties at this time should continue to heed police, fire and other local authorities for latest updates and safety precautions.

For additional information about wildfires and lung health, visit Lung.org/wildfires or call 1-800-LUNGUSA.