Fargo, N.D. – Exposure to wildfire smoke related to the Canada wildfires is not only bad for adults, but medical professionals are offering advice to keep your children safe as well.
Sanford Health pulmonologist Dr. Venkatkiran Kanchustambham is advising parents to watch out for symptoms in kids who are spending time outside during poor air quality days.
“Their lungs are still developing and they spend a lot of time outdoors,” Kanchustambham told The Flag’s Steve Hallstrom. “Plus, they take in more air per body weight than adults, so they’re more prone to [air] pollution.”
Listen below: Dr. Venkatkiran Kanchustambham on The Steve Hallstrom Show
The Fargo-Moorhead area has experienced several days of poor air quality days since last weekend because of Canadian wildfire smoke blowing southward into the U.S..
Kanchustambham says an air quality index of 50 or less is considered normal, but adds that parents should be cautious if it goes higher.
“For kids who have asthma, any [index] between 50 and 100 , they [parents] should keep a close eye to make sure they don’t have any worsening symptoms like increasing cough, wheezing or chest tightness.”
If the index exceeds 100, Kanchustambham says kids should be either limiting their time outdoors or not play outside at all.
Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy for all people.
Kanchustambham says a even healthy child can develop irritation of the eyes, nose, which could lead to longer term conditions like asthma and bronchitis with repeated exposure year after year.
“Every year, we have about 5 to 7 days of bad air quality during this time of year,” says Kanchustambham. “In the long term, it builds up.”
While there’s no recommendation in terms of a time limit, the key is paying attention to your child.
“There’s no real absolute number in terms of how many days you need to be exposed,” says Kanchustambham. “More than days or hours, [check to see] are they symptomatic.”
For adults, Kanchustambham says it’s “reasonable and acceptable to be outdoors” as long as you’re healthy and the index is below 150, but people should watch for symptoms.
But if the air quality index is above 150, Kanchustambham says you should consider wearing a mask outdoors.
That said, Kanchustambham says a cloth or surgical mask is ineffective to keep tiny particulate matter from entering your lungs, and recommends a higher quality face covering like an N95 mask.
