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- Kristine de Leon | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Several days of wildfire smoke are beginning to send more Oregonians to emergency departments and urgent care clinics, according to state health officials
The Oregon Health Authority said Wednesday that visits for respiratory illnesses are running above normal in parts of the state affected by wildfire smoke. The increase comes as anair quality advisory remains in effect for the Portland metro area and much of central and eastern Oregon because of smoke fromdozens of wildfires burning in Oregon and Washington
Portland briefly had the worst air quality of any major city tracked by IQAir, a global air quality monitoring company, Wednesday morning as smoke settled over the Willamette Valley. The city’s ranking slipped later in the day as conditions improved, but health officials warned that smoke levels can change quickly as winds shift
The National Weather Service expects smoke to start clearing from the Portland area by Friday, while much of eastern Oregon may have to wait until Saturday
State health officials didn’t say how many additional patients have sought care or how much visits have increased compared with normal levels. OHA collects near real-time data from nearly every emergency department and urgent care clinic in the state, though reports can lag by about 24 hours
One finding that has surprised state health officials: Adults ages 18-44 made up the largest share of patients seeking care, not older adults
Gabriela Goldfarb, environmental health manager for OHA’s Public Health Division, said the agency suspects many older adults and people with chronic illnesses are already taking steps to protect themselves, while younger adults may underestimate the health risks from wildfire smoke
“Folks who are in that younger cohort may feel a little bit less vulnerable,” Goldfarb said. “But it turns out it impacts everybody’s health as well.”
Wildfire smoke carries tiny particles and gases released by burning trees and plants. The smallest particles – known as PM2.5, particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in size – are about 30 times thinner than a human hair and small enough to travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, Goldfarb said
She said those particles are especially dangerous for people with heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and other chronic health conditions. Children are also more vulnerable because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air for their body size than adults
The statewide increase has not shown up in every community
Washington County health officials said emergency department visits for noninfectious respiratory illnesses, which include conditions linked to wildfire smoke, air pollution and pollen, were within the expected range for this time of year. The county declined to release the number of visits, saying the figures are considered identifiable health information
Afiq Hisham, a spokesperson for Washington County’s health department, said children younger than 4 and adults older than 75 made up a larger share of those visits than expected, and that 90% of patients had an underlying chronic disease
Health officials in Multnomah and Clackamas counties also said Wednesday morning they had not yet seen an increase in respiratory illness visits. But Sarah Present, a spokesperson for Multnomah County, said hospitals and urgent care clinics report data at the end of each day, meaning statewide surveillance can lag local conditions by about 24 hours
- As 40,000-acre Grasshopper fire nears, towns near Mount Hood are smoky and stoic
- Oregon utilities cut power in some areas affected by wildfires
- Firefighters gain ground on Spokane wildfires, but danger remains high
- When will the smoke go away? Experts say relief is in sight for Oregon
- Timberline Lodge under Level 1 (be ready) evacuation order from Grasshopper fire
How to protect against wildfire smoke
Health officials are urging people to limit time outdoors and avoid strenuous activities, such as running or heavy yard work, when wildfire smoke pushes air quality into the unhealthy range
Goldfarb said people without air conditioning should spend part of the day in cleaner-air spaces, such as libraries, community centers or other public buildings with filtered air, or stay with friends or relatives if possible
OHA officials also recommend portable HEPA air cleaners and homemade box-fan air filters to help reduce smoke particles indoors
If spending time outdoors is unavoidable, Goldfarb recommends wearing a well-fitting N95 or KN95 respirator. She said cloth masks, bandanas and standard surgical masks don’t effectively filter the tiny particles in wildfire smoke
Burning eyes, coughing and a scratchy throat are among the most common symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure. Goldfarb said people should seek medical advice if they develop painful or difficult breathing or if smoke worsens an existing medical condition
OHA also has received many questions about whether it can cancel youth camps, sporting events or other outdoor activities. Goldfarb said the agency does not have that authority
She encouraged parents to use the guidance when deciding whether children should participate in outdoor activities and to “make the right choice for their child.”
Goldfarb also urged Oregonians to check air quality before heading outside, because smoke conditions can change quickly as winds shift
“One of the most important ways is to know where the smoke is,” she said
