Wildfire Season: Helping Patients Prepare Before Smoke Becomes a Health Emergency

Wildfire season no longer only affects the West Coast but expands across the United States. Smoke from wildfires can travel hundreds, even thousands, of miles, affecting air quality and putting medically vulnerable individuals at risk. For patients who rely on home oxygen, respiratory equipment, or who live with chronic conditions such as COPD, asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, planning is essential.

Home medical equipment providers have an opportunity to help patients prepare before air quality deteriorates or evacuation orders are issued.

Tip & Reminders for Patients and Caregivers:

• Monitor local air quality daily. Encourage patients to check conditions before spending time outdoors. Air quality can change quickly as smoke shifts.
• Maintain an emergency supply of medications and equipment. Patients should have enough medications, oxygen supplies, batteries, and other essential medical equipment to last several days in the event of poor air quality or an evacuation.
• Know when to stay indoors. When air quality reaches unhealthy levels, patients should keep windows and doors closed, when possible, use air conditioning on recirculation mode if available, and avoid activities that create additional indoor air pollution.
• Have an evacuation plan. Patients who depend on electricity for medical equipment should know where they will go, how they will transport equipment, and whom to contact if they must leave their home.

Resources to Share with Patients:

The following resources provide reliable, up-to-date information to help patients and caregivers stay informed:

• CDC Wildfire Safety: Guidance on preparing for wildfires, protecting against smoke exposure, and staying safe before, during, and after a wildfire.
  https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/about/index.html
• AirNow Fire and Smoke Map: A real-time map showing wildfire locations, smoke plumes, and local Air Quality Index (AQI) conditions across the United States.
  https://fire.airnow.gov/#6/41/-98
• NOAA Smoke Forecasting: Forecast models that help predict where wildfire smoke may travel over the coming days.
  https://www.arl.noaa.gov/hysplit/smoke-forecasting/
• Ready.gov Wildfires: Comprehensive emergency preparedness guidance, including evacuation planning, emergency kits, and family communication plans before wildfire season begins.
  https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
• WatchDuty.org: A free app that provides real-time, verified wildfire alerts, smoke conditions, evacuation information, and live incident maps to help people stay informed and make timely decisions during wildfire emergencies.
  https://www.watchduty.org/

Wildfire preparedness is ensuring patients can continue receiving the care and support they depend on, even when air quality conditions change rapidly. By sharing trusted resources and encouraging advance planning, HME providers can help protect the health and safety of the patients they serve.