Fires: DGS issues recommendations on what to do in case of exposure to smoke

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) today made recommendations on what to do in the event of smoke inhalation from fires, such as removing the person from the area and observing whether they have facial burns and signs of difficulty breathing.

The DGS recommendations regarding exposure to wildfire smoke are due to the expected rise in temperatures in some regions of the country and the very high to maximum risk of rural fires in the North, Center and Algarve regions.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), hot and dry weather is expected from today onwards.

Temperatures could exceed 40 degrees in some regions of Portugal.

In the event of smoke inhalation, the DGS recommends removing the person from the area and preventing them from breathing smoke or being exposed to heat.

Warning signs include the presence of facial burns, difficulty breathing and altered state of consciousness.

The DGS warns that “inhaling fumes or chemical irritants, and heat can cause damage to the respiratory tract.”

There are two mechanisms of injury: heat injury (burn) and irritation/toxicity from the chemical components of smoke.

In this sense, the DGS recommends avoiding exposure to smoke, staying indoors, with windows and doors closed, in a cool environment, turning on the air conditioning, if possible, in air recirculation mode.

You should also avoid using combustion sources indoors, such as gas or wood-burning appliances, tobacco, candles, incense, among others, as well as avoiding outdoor activities.

The use of a mask/respirator (N95) is recommended whenever exposure is unavoidable, as well as maintaining your usual medication “if you have associated illnesses, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and following your doctor's instructions if your symptoms worsen”.

“Stay informed, hydrated and fresh,” summarizes this health authority.

It is also recommended that, if necessary or for more information, you call SNS24 (808 24 24 24) and in an emergency call 112.

The DGS also highlights in a note published on the website that drinking milk in the case of smoke poisoning is a myth.

"Its usefulness is not described in scientific articles. Milk is not an antidote to carbon monoxide," he emphasizes.

Mainland Portugal is again under a yellow warning today due to persistent high temperatures, with the only exception being the Faro district, according to the IPMA.

In the districts of Lisbon, Leiria and Aveiro, the warning begins at 9:00 am today, while in the other districts, it is already in effect.

All warnings will remain in effect until at least 6:00 PM on Thursday.

In Madeira, the South Coast and mountainous regions are also under a yellow warning until 6:00 pm today due to the heat.

Almost all municipalities in the north, central and Algarve regions are currently at maximum or very high risk of rural fires, according to data from the IPMA.

On the north coast, only the municipalities of Esposende (Braga), Póvoa de Varzim (Porto) and Murtosa, Aveiro and Ílhavo (all in the district of Aveiro) are at moderate risk of rural fires.

In the Algarve, the municipalities of Olhão, Faro, Albufeira, and Lagoa are the only ones at moderate risk. For the remaining municipalities, the IPMA forecasts high to maximum risk.

According to IPMA calculations, the danger of rural fires will remain high in the coming days in these same regions of the northern and central interior and in the Algarve.