Smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires is impacting Kentucky. Health officials say particulate matter from the blazes can pose a threat to those with health concerns, especially small children. Dr. Elizabeth Hawse, a Lexington pediatrician, said kids are at higher risk than adults from wildfire smoke.
“They breathe more air relative to their body size, and they also run around and are way more active than we do, than we are. So they basically breathe more times per minute than adults. So they get a lot more smoke into their lungs, you know, per pound of body weight, than we do.”
Hawse recommends checking the air quality index.
“You can just Google what the air quality index is near you, and if it's greater than 150 you really should just minimize the outdoor activity at least in time, or how often people are going outside.”
Hawse said children with asthma or other lung diseases should be kept indoors until the air quality improves.
