What to do in the event of a forest fire and how to prevent health problems – 2024-02-25 17:40:08

Forest fires correspond to fires where the fire spreads uncontrollably in natural areas such as forests, volcanoes and mountains, and puts the local flora and fauna at risk. Besides, can affect people’s health, causing respiratory problemscardiovascular and skin.

According to Andrés Lemus, spokesperson for the Guatemalan Red Cross, whenever a forest fire is seen that has expanded in a short period of time and is close to our home, the recommendation is evacuate area once morest the direction of the wind and where the fire is.

In this way, the wind creates a protective barrier and we can leave the area safely. If you cannot leave the house, the emergency services must be called to make an evacuation with their help.

How wildfires affect health

“Forest fires mainly affect the respiratory tract, since these They generate more smoke than a structural fire. This smoke intensifies with the wind and can reach more distant places,” says Lemus.

The conditions it causes in people are respiratory tract problems, eye, nose and mouth irritation, and skin burns which can be classified as first, second and third degree.

According to Eduardo López, an internist, among the symptoms related to the respiratory tract are difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, irritation in the nose and phlegm in the throat. “People with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis should go to a healthcare center as soon as possible, since they are prone to serious consequences from smoke inhalation,” he says.

If you have difficulty breathing, the recommendation is to move away from the fire and where the smoke is. Try to breathe normally and, if you can, Take a kraft paper or plastic bag and pretend to blow up a balloon. If the difficulty breathing is very extensive, you must contact the emergency services or a health center because oxygen treatment would be needed.

Wildfires might also cause eye irritation due to the debris carried by the smoke and its density. Therefore, the ideal is wash your face with plenty of water and, if possible, use natural tears.

Forest fires affect the flora and fauna of the place, as well as put at risk the health of those who live near the area that is consumed by the fire. (Free Press Photo: María René Barrientos).

Burns can also occur in the respiratory tract, since smoke carries heat and radiation that can cause burns in this area of ​​the body and on the skin.

“Los Symptoms of burns in the respiratory tract are burning or a lot of heat in the throat and it dries very quickly. So, you should drink plenty of water at room temperature (not cold or hot), while going to a hospital to receive adequate care,” adds the Spokesperson for the Guatemalan Red Cross.

Other health consequences are skin burns, which are classified into first, second and third degree, depending on severity.

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In first-degree burns, the affected skin appears pink, and in second-degree burns, blisters appear. In these cases, you must apply water at room temperature for 10 or 15 minutes. With second degree ones you have to avoid bursting the blister because this is the skin’s natural mechanism of regenerating the affected skin.

While in the third degree burns, charred skin is seen and immediate transfer to a hospital is required.

These recommendations should be made while attending a health center, since a medical check-up is always appropriate to avoid serious consequences.

When to return to the place?

According to Lemus, there are different moments in a forest fire. One of them is when there is a fire and the rescue teams are working to put it out. “It is different when the fire is extinguished or controlled. It is said to be under control when firefighters have managed to contain the fire. in a single area and prevent it from expanding; while suffocated is when there are no longer flames.”

To return to the place you have to wait a reasonable amount of time, depending on the magnitude of the fire and the materials it has consumed. It can be a period of 48 hours, 3 weeks or more, depending on the conditions of the area following the fire control and suppression process.

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