Fire season is getting worse – more frequent and creating more intense and larger fires. Just this year, over 35,000 fires have burned over 4.8 million acres – well above the 10-year average. These fires are becoming a fact of life for many Americans – and people should take deliberate steps to ensure the air is clean and safe to breathe.
As the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of COVID-19 cause case numbers to surge once again, Americans should take proactive steps to protect themselves. New science, developed during the early stages of the pandemic, is the best way to stop the spread.
Our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Ereth is an expert in indoor air quality and recently spoke about his research at the International Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality & Climate in Finland.
For decades, health care officials relied on outdated strategies to fight airborne pathogens that make us sick. However, we now know that some of the smallest and most dangerous air particles remain suspended in our breathing zone, increasing the likelihood that you’ll inhale them in and get sick. So, what should we do with this new information?
With every crisis, there is opportunity. The pandemic has taught us infectious diseases can spread in many ways. Previously, the priority for infection control has been handwashing, sanitizing surfaces, and covering your mouth when you cough. Now, the priority is the air we breathe.
Keep in mind: where there’s fire, there’s (deadly) smoke! Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Ereth, is raising awareness about the dangers wildfires pose when it comes to air quality.