112 | LA Wildfires: How to Protect Your Health

LA is under an unprecedented siege of wildfires. Ron and I decided to republish this critically important episode on wildfire dangers, including what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. Many people are now without homes, cars, and belongings, while local schools and businesses have been burned to the ground; most affected people are just trying to survive with, in many cases, just the shirts on their backs.

Smoke can travel miles beyond its source. In 2020, wildfire smoke in the Western United States drifted for almost 5,000 miles, eventually being detected as far away as Europe. That’s important when considering that smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death from wildfires; according to the National Fire Protection Association, 50 to 80 percent of fire deaths are from smoke inhalation.

Keeping your air clean even if you don’t reside in Southern California is essential! Use the right certified masks outdoors and air purifiers indoors. We’ll include links to these resources and offer discounts.

Our guest and CEO of IQAir North America, Glory Dolphin Hammes, is an expert in environmental control, a Certified Indoor Environmentalist, and a licensed HVAC contractor.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. How wildfires impact people
2. The percentage of wildfires that humans cause
3. The amount of damage wildfires do, how fast they move, and how much space they burn annually
4. How wildfires impact our health
5. The type of VOCs and other dangerous contaminants present in smoke
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