Wildfire smoke putting health at risk as it chokes southeast Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is sharing safety guidelines as wildfire smoke from Canada lowers air quality once again.

The air quality in Lincoln was in the unhealthy category for most of Wednesday. Hazy conditions may last into Friday.

Officials are stressing that everyone at risk should avoid extensive physical activity outdoors.

That includes young children, older adults and anyone with respiratory or heart conditions.

“It’s unhealthy for everyone,” said Gary Bergstrom, the department’s air quality program supervisor. “Especially those folks that are at risk, you have to limit their exposure out there and limit the intensity of their activities, but even healthy folks.”

In addition to limiting physical activity, you’re encouraged to stay inside and keep your windows and doors shut.

If you do need to leave home, you’ll want to take plenty of breaks.  Also watch for symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and chest pain.

If you do experience any health effects, seek medical care as soon as possible.

Experts say high levels of particle pollution like this can impact people with diabetes, obesity, cancer and kidney disease.

Officials stress that people with asthma should have their medicine ready to go at all times as well.

“Those folks who have harder-line diseases — asthma, other respiratory type of things — the elderly, small children, they may have more impacts,” said Tracy Wharton, air quality program specialist with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

You can check the current air quality in your community at airnow.gov.