protect your selves from smoke pollution

To protect themselves from smoke pollution, citizens in Los Angeles are purchasing air filters and donning masks.

Dana Benton has taken extra precautions, even wearing a mask while sleeping despite running an air purifier, in response to the severe air pollution that has engulfed sections of Los Angeles.

Chinatown resident Benton, wearing a N95 mask, said, "My car was covered in ash, and it's horrifying to think we might be breathing that in," outside a Mid-City Sprouts grocery store. Like many others, she has fled her home to avoid the smoke, even though she doesn't live there. Benton's parents are now hosting her and her cat.

Although it smells like a bonfire, she explained, "it's not like one."

As wildfires rage through communities in Los Angeles, the 30-year-old is concerned about toxic substances discharged from burning homes and businesses, including plastic and asbestos. Her eyes and throat continue to burn even though she keeps her windows closed, her air filter on high, and she spends most of her time indoors.

She claimed that all of those microscopic particles were entering our lungs. It's quite concerning... The long-term impact this will have on everyone's health is beyond my comprehension.

She has good reason to be worried. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, tiny airborne particles are one of the most harmful types of pollution, resulting in severe and fatal health issues.

The air quality index, which gauges dangerous particles, has reached dangerous levels in certain places, including Pasadena, and residents throughout Southern California are exercising caution. In the meanwhile, there are no more air purifiers available at Home Depot locations in Central Los Angeles.

More people are visiting emergency departments with respiratory issues, according to Dr. Puneet Gupta, assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Some arrive by ambulance, while others drive themselves or bring family.

He clarified that the direction and speed of the wind cause conditions to constantly change. Because the air can remain toxic for a long time after a fire has been extinguished, it is crucial to take precautions like wearing masks and remaining inside.

Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, said dry winds of 50 to 65 mph could continue throughout next week in the foothills and mountains. A red flag warning, which indicates a high risk of fire, is also in effect from Monday night until Wednesday night.

According to Dr. Nader Kamangar, a pulmonary critical care expert at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, "the risks for the Palisades Fire and the Hurst Fire are real, especially with another round of strong winds coming."

Although he hasn't yet noticed an increase in ER visits for respiratory problems brought on by the smoke, he cautions that things may change in the days ahead. The most dangerous airborne particles, he explained, are extremely small ones because they can carry poisons deep into the bloodstream and lungs, which can lead to lung and heart issues. The air becomes considerably more dangerous when homes and vehicles built of toxic materials burn.

Dr. Kamangar suggested that persons with asthma or other respiratory conditions carry their medication and inhalers with them and suggested wearing N95 masks outside. He noted that the most vulnerable are youngsters, the elderly, and people with lung diseases. "We are prepared for the worst, but we hope for the best," he said.

In

central Los Angeles, Celia Fagel brought her dog, Lou, for a brief bathroom break while ash fell from an orange sky. "It's better to be safe than sorry," she said, donning a black face mask.

She was concerned about her dog as well. "Lou can’t wear a mask and has no idea what’s happening," she stated.

Guillermina Gonzalez, 61, advised her family to stay inside while she walked her dog while wearing two masks. Her words were in Spanish: "This is really bad... really dangerous."

She conveyed her profound sorrow for the people whose homes were destroyed by the fires. She said, "There are so many people who will need our help," while crying. "We should assist if we can, as we are all human."