Experts recommend staying inside as smoke impacts Nebraska air quality

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — With an air quality alert extending into Friday for eastern and much of central Nebraska, pulmonologists are sounding a warning.

Health officials said smoke from controlled burns in the Flint Hills of Kansas could reach levels that are unhealthy for everyone, so people are encouraged to limit their time outdoors.

While it’s especially concerning for anyone with preexisting conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it has further-reaching impacts.

“I would say the poor air quality is not great for anyone,” said Dr. William Pruett, a pulmonologist with CHI Health.

But whether it’s going to work or getting outside and enjoying some exercise, staying inside simply isn’t an option for most.

And in this part of the country, air quality can be affected by multiple sources.

“It’s hard to avoid some of the smoke coming from up north or the dust coming from the farms,” Pruett said. “But I would just be cognizant of your surroundings.”

Pruett added that it’s important to be very self-aware when enjoying the outdoors and to immediately go inside if your breathing feels off.

If it doesn’t resolve back to normal quickly, it might be time to seek medical attention.

And if you do have to be outside, health officials recommend avoiding any heavy physical activity.

Masking up also might not do you much good.

“The masks — especially the ones we had during COVID — probably won’t help with air quality,” Pruett said. “But they definitely don’t hurt.”

You can check the current Air Quality Index in your location online.

While the controlled burns in Kansas will wrap up this spring, Lincoln does often see air quality alerts in the summer due to wildfires across the west and Canada.