The current fires across the Bay Area are impacting many people in our community. Stanford Health Care is concerned for your health and we remain open to provide care during this time.
Many people experience uncomfortable symptoms as a result of unhealthy air quality. These may include burning eyes, runny nose, sore throat, cough, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. It’s especially important for you to pay attention to local air quality reports during a fire if you are:
- A person with heart or lung disease, such as heart failure, angina, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or asthma
- An older adult
- A child or teenager
- A person with diabetes
- A pregnant person
If you are in one of these groups, or care for someone in one of these groups, please contact your healthcare provider if the event of increased symptoms. If you need immediate attention, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
During this time, everyone is encouraged to protect themselves by doing the following:
- Stay indoors as much as possible and limit activity with physical exertion
- Keep smoke out of your home by keeping doors and windows closed, use air cleaners, and use air conditioning depending on the power recommendations for your area
- If your home is too warm to remain inside without doors and windows open, look for cooling stations in your city and county
- Have a several-day supply of nonperishable foods that do not require cooking
- If you go out of your home, continue to follow COVID-19 precautions of wearing a face covering, washing your hands frequently, and maintaining a 6-foot distance from others whenever possible
