Don’t let smoke get in your eyes — or lungs
Climatologists are telling us that the central and eastern U.S. states are in for a long, hot and smoky summer because of raging wildfires in Canada, mainly in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario provinces.
“We can anticipate that these major smoke-emitting fires will continue to burn for an extended period,” says Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections. “Furthermore, the long-range fire forecast calls for above-average fire risk over much of the forested areas of western Canada and the Western U.S. this summer, and we should anticipate frequent bouts of poor air quality from wildfire smoke across much of North America.”
It's become a rite of spring. Hazy skies over Chicago lingered because of the smoke from up north. A smoke map from AccuWeather showed widespread smoke from Wisconsin and Michigan down to Elgin and Joliet.
In its 2025 State of the Air report, the American Lung Association estimates that 156 million Americans — nearly half of us — live where there are unhealthy levels of particle pollution (which includes smoke) and ozone.
According to the report, “Extreme heat, drought and wildfires are contributing to worsening levels of air pollution across much of the U.S., exposing a growing proportion of the population to ozone and particle pollution that put their health at risk.”
Here are four things to know about summer smoke and how to protect yourself.
Wildfire smoke is dangerous to our health.
Wildfire smoke contains a menacing stew of gases and fine particles, some of which are so small they can penetrate the respiratory system, worsening symptoms of asthma, heart disease and various lung ailments.
It’s the fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) that is most concerning because these particles are so tiny, about 1/20th the width of a human hair, they can enter the bloodstream and lungs. A study in 2024 by a group of university researchers found that exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increases in deaths from heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and other conditions.
Pay attention to AQI
The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your air is and what the associated health effects may be. It ranges from green (0 to 50), safe for everyone, to dark red (301 to 500), which is unsafe for everyone.
An AQI over 150 is considered unhealthy for the general population. AQI over 101 can be unhealthy for sensitive groups and some with asthma and other conditions may feel unhealthy when the AQI is below 150. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality due to their developing lungs and high activity levels.
The Chicago AQI averages from moderate to unhealthy, affected by not only smoke but also vehicle emissions and heat. Always check the AQI before heading outdoors, especially if there’s smoke in the air.
Masks help
The masks we wear to stave off the COVID virus also work against the fine particulates in wildfire smoke. An N95 mask blocks 95% of PM2.5, and an N90 blocks 90%. Other common masks, like KN95 and FFP2, are equivalent to the N95 standard. Even a disposable surgical mask is better than nothing.
A mask should seal around your nose and mouth, while still leaving room for breathing. With another summer spike in COVID expected, make sure you have masks on hand in adult and kid sizes.
Don’t let your indoor environment make it worse
While you’re staying indoors as much as possible during periods of high smoke concentration, make your indoor environment safe, too.
Close doors and windows. Use your air conditioning and make sure it’s set to recirculate indoor air, not draw from outside.
You can also get inexpensive portable air cleaners with HEPA filters, or upgrade the filter in your HVAC system to MERV 13, which filters allergens and mold in addition to particles. There are higher MERV ratings, but they’re generally not recommended for residential use.
Avoid activities that worsen indoor air quality, such as smoking, using wood-burning stoves or burning candles.
Last year, Canadian wildfires persisted until November, so we have a long way to go. Keep yourself and your loved ones out of harm’s way by keeping an eye on the AQI, staying inside when it’s unhealthy, and keeping masks in your home and car.
• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg, a registered nurse, board-certified patient advocate, is the founder of www.NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com, which trains medical professionals to become successful private patient advocates. She is the author of “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones,” available on Amazon. Frykenberg offers a free phone consultation to readers. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com.