Advice from the government's Better Health Channel on managing smoke inhalation from fires.
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00:00This is Larry. Larry is a PM2.5 fine particle. He and his mates live in smoke from fires.
00:10He's not the only thing that lives there. Smoke is a mixture of particles, water vapour
00:15and gases. But Larry and his mates, well, they're the biggest troublemakers.
00:20You see, fine particles like Larry can cause some short-term or long-term effects on your
00:25respiratory or cardiovascular systems. That can mean big problems for your heart and lungs,
00:31especially if you have asthma or other lung conditions.
00:35The effects of smoke exposure can vary. Health effects could be as simple as itchy eyes and
00:39a sore throat, but it can also be something more serious. Because fire smoke can not only
00:45signal a threat to your safety, but also a risk to your health.
00:49Larry's microscopic. That means he's tough to see. To give you an idea of just how tiny
00:54he is, here's 40 Larrys laying side-by-side, along the width of a human hair.
01:00But how could something so small cause so much trouble? Well, if you've had a kid, you'll know.
01:06Because Larry and his friends are so small, they're prime culprits for getting into all
01:10the places they shouldn't be. They can get right down deep into your respiratory system
01:15and hang out in your lungs. Larry irritates some people more than others.
01:19Kids up to 14 and adults over 65, smokers, pregnant women and people with a heart or
01:25lung condition can have a much tougher time putting up with Larry. Their symptoms can
01:30be worse at lower smoke concentrations. Kids are also more at risk because their respiratory
01:35systems are still developing. They're often running around outside and they breathe in
01:40more air per body weight than adults. More air means more Larrys.
01:45So how do you keep Larry out of your lungs? If you're not under threat from a fire, stay
01:50inside with the windows and doors closed and reduce your physical activity. If you have
01:55a heart or lung condition, including asthma, make sure you take your medications and follow
02:00your treatment plan. Keep the air inside your home as healthy as possible. If you have an
02:04air conditioner, switch it to recirculate or reuse and reduce activities that affect
02:10indoor air quality like smoking cigarettes, burning candles or vacuuming. If your home
02:15is uncomfortable, take a break from Larry by visiting a friend or relative away from
02:20the smoke or visit an air condition centre like a library. Check that it's safe to go
02:25elsewhere before leaving. And when there's a break in the smoke, open your windows and
02:29doors to get rid of any smoke inside the house. See you later Larry. Keep Larry out of your
02:35lungs. Stay safe and keep your airways clear.
02:40www.cdc.gov.uk