Even for Bay Area residents who did not actively flee from the dozens of fires burning in the region, the infernos have sent unspoken smoke across the air, dusting cars and houses in ashes. Hot weather is expected to continue, especially in the East Bay and South Bay. And the coronavirus pandemic is still a serious threat. Here are seven tips for staying safe and healthy during the fire season.
1. Be prepared when you need to evacuate
Collect a few important things so you do not shake when the evacuation board arrives. Make sure you pack your medication, important documents such as passports and birth certificates, glasses or contact lenses when you wear them, chargers for your phone and an extra battery pack if you have them, flashlight, a change of clothes, non-food items – think of granola bars – and water. And do not forget to pack face masks to protect against COVID-19.
If there is a baby in the family, make sure you pack formula as well as other essentials for the little one, and pack food for your pets. Remember to bring your wallet or purse if you need to flee.
Set up a meeting place if family members are divorced. Make an emergency contact from the area to let everyone know you are safe.
2. Make sure you have a safe way to get out
At least five people lost their lives in the fires that swept through Sonoma County several years ago, specifically because they could not get their cars out of their garage. When the power goes out, garage doors often stop working. In the wake of the devastating fires, lawmakers in Sacramento have introduced a new law that requires new openers of electric garages with backup batteries. But for people with older openers, make sure you know where the emergency release cable is before you actually need it.
However, the doors can be very heavy. If there is a chance you need to evacuate and are not sure you can get the door open, consider parking on the driveway or street, or leaving the garage door open.
Plan possible evacuation routes in advance. Is there another way out if your street is blocked?
3. Take coronavirus precautions
Mask on and perform hand sanitizer. This applies to people in active fire areas and residents elsewhere in the Bay Area who are dealing with polluted air. The coronavirus can be deadly to otherwise healthy people, even if the air is clear, but it can be especially harmful if air quality is poor.
“If you get COVID and you are exposed to a lot of particulate matter from the fires, that will greatly reduce (your symptoms),” said John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert and professor emeritus at UC Berkeley who advised has met with firefighters in the state, this news organization told recently.
4. Stay home
If possible, stay home and push the house up – close windows and doors and hunt down. Staying in it helps stop the spread of the coronavirus and it helps protect your lungs from smelly air. Absolutely do not practice outside.
If you have access to an air purifier, even one with limited capacity, you can set up a designated “clean room,” said Mary Prunicki, director of Air Pollution and Health Research at the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University. . And if you have a pre-existing condition such as asthma, you need to fill out presentations by hand.
In addition to the mild throat and eye irritation many people experience when the air is cloudy, Prunicki said, poor air quality can also mean more heart attacks, strokes and other major medical problems. If you feel unwell, consult your doctor.
5. Stay cool
It is still very hot in large swaths of the Bay Area, and many homes do not have air conditioning. For those lucky enough to have AC, it is generally safe to use the systems, even if the air quality outside is poor, as most do not rely on outdoor air. But double check to make sure before you turn on system. If, like many residents, you are wandering in a closed house without the benefit of cool air, make sure you wear light, loose clothing and drink plenty of water.
And if the heat gets too hot – this is especially true for very young and old – go to a cooling center, which offers many cities and counties in very hot weather, even during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
6. Sign up for alerts
Whether you are in serious fire danger and want to know if you need to evacuate, or you just want to know why the air in your neighborhood is so humid, signing up for warnings is a great way to stay alert. Each Bay Area province has its own alarm system, which you can sign up for online, and you can generally provide a phone number and / or email address and receive texts and emails with updates specific to your location.
7. Protect your home
Remember to “harden” your home against wildfires. This can range from making sure rain wells are clear and removing dead or very dry plants and vegetation around your home to costly fixes such as replacing roof or shingled roofs with more fire resistant material. Cal Fire has created an online list of suggestions.
Related video: After fleeing, Bonny Doon man returns to see if his house is OK
