Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada and parts of the northern United States has prompted air quality alerts across New Jersey, New York and much of the Northeast.
High concentrations of fine particulate matter due to wildfires can make breathing difficult for everyone, but the risk is greatest for young children, older adults and anyone with asthma, allergies, heart disease or other respiratory conditions. Extreme heat and humidity may make the smoky conditions feel even worse.
Experts advise monitoring local air quality reports and limiting outdoor activity when readings reach the orange or red categories. If you must spend time outside, consider wearing a well-fitting N95 mask, which can help filter smoke particles, pulmonologists at Hackensack Meridian Health advise.
At home, keep windows closed and use air conditioning and an air purifier when possible. In the car, set the air conditioner to recirculate air rather than drawing it in from outside.
People with respiratory conditions should continue taking their regular medications and keep rescue inhalers nearby. Anyone experiencing severe shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness or worsening symptoms should seek medical attention.
We asked Dr. Nader Nakhleh, chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine,Â
K Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, how to keep kids safe when the air quality is so poor. Here is what he shared:
New Jersey Family: What should parents know about protecting babies and children during an air quality alert, especially kids with asthma or allergies?
Dr. Nader Nakhleh: Babies and young children are uniquely vulnerable to poor air quality for a few reasons. First, their lungs are still actively growing and developing. Second, their airways are physically smaller, meaning even a small amount of inflammation can cause significant breathing difficulties. Finally, children breathe at a faster rate than adults, meaning they inhale a proportionately larger amount of pollutants relative to their body weight.
When children inhale wildfire smoke, the fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing irritation and inflammation. For children with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or environmental allergies, this smoke acts as a potent trigger. It can cause immediate airway spasms and hyper-reactivity, leading to acute asthma attacks or severe allergic responses. Repeated or prolonged exposure to these pollutants during early childhood can also negatively impact long-term lung development and function.
NJF: When is it safe for children to play outside, attend camp or play sports, and when should families keep them indoors?
Dr. Nakhleh: It is important to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) during wildfire season. The AQI is your daily guide to how clean or polluted the air is. When the AQI reaches levels that are “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (orange) or worse (red, purple or maroon), babies, toddlers and children with asthma should be kept indoors in a clean-air environment as much as possible.
The duration of exposure plays a massive role in whether a child will develop symptoms. If you must take your child outside during periods of significantly elevated AQI, I strongly stress limiting their outdoor time to a maximum of 30 minutes. Keeping outdoor exposure brief minimizes the volume of smoke and particulates they inhale, significantly reducing the risk of triggering respiratory distress.
NJF: What signs of breathing trouble should we watch for in both babies and children?
Dr. Nakhleh: Even with precautions, smoke exposure can irritate a child’s lungs. Parents should be highly vigilant for the following signs of respiratory distress:
- Labored breathing: Look for signs that your child is working hard to breathe, such as flaring nostrils or the skin pulling in around their ribs or neck (also called retractions).
- Sudden increase in coughing.
- Wheezing which is a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing out.
Being proactive when your child has asthma is important. Ensure you have an updated asthma treatment plan from your doctor and that all caregivers understand it. It is also a good idea to verify that all necessary daily controller medications and rescue inhalers are readily available, unexpired, and that you have a working spacer or nebulizer. Make sure you maintain close communication with your child’s primary care physician (PCP) or pediatric pulmonologist. If your child begins exhibiting symptoms that do not respond to their rescue medications as outlined in their action plan, do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor or seek emergency medical care.
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