Smoke and your health

Most healthy people can tolerate brief smoke exposure. However, some people are more sensitive to smoke.

People sensitive to smoke include:

• infants and young children
• older people
  
• people with diabetes
  
• people with heart and blood vessel diseases, such as angina, heart failure and stroke
• people with lung conditions, such as asthma
• pregnant people.
  

If this is you, you should reduce your exposure to smoke as much as possible.

Anyone may experience the following symptoms as a result of smoke exposure:

• eye, nose and throat irritation
• coughing
• sneezing
• congestion.

Signs of short-term smoke discomfort usually clear up in healthy adults once away from the smoke.

However, smoke can also:

• trigger asthma
• worsen heart disease.

If you experience any of these symptoms, follow your treatment plan or seek medical advice.

If you're concerned about symptoms related to air quality, find out who to contact.

Smoke can also be a risk because it reduces visibility and road safety.

For general health advice when air quality is poor, visit Air quality categories.

Learn more about Assessing health risk from smoke.

Be prepared for smoke events

To be prepared for smoke at any time of year, you can:

• find out about planned burning in Victoria from the Forest Fire Management Victoria (opens in a new window)website
  
• get current air quality forecasts and alerts for Victoria on AirWatch
• find the gaps in your doors and windows and seal them
  
• make sure you always have at least 5 days supply of any medication
• understand what types of face masks can help protect you from smoke
• learn if an indoor air cleaner can help reduce your exposure (see Smoke and portable indoor air cleaners).
  

Reduce your exposure to smoke

If you see or smell smoke outside, things you can do to reduce your exposure include:

• Stay indoors, if it is safe to do so.
• Check our air quality forecasts to help plan your activities.
• Avoid vigorous outdoor exercise when air quality conditions are poor. This is especially important for higher-risk people. Indoor exercise is okay if indoor air quality is good.
• Keep track of the conditions outside.
  
• Close your windows and doors until outdoor air quality is better. Use wet towels to cover gaps.
• Switch air conditioners to recirculate or reuse air. If they do not have that function, turn them off.
• Use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter if you have access to one Smoke and portable indoor air cleaners.
• Follow the treatment plan recommended by your doctor.
• Go to a place with cleaner air – such as an air-conditioned building like a library or shopping centre – if it is safe to do so.
• If you or anyone in your care has trouble breathing or tightness in the chest, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.

When outdoor air quality improves, you can ventilate your home or facility.

If you cannot avoid being outside:

• Use a P2, KN95 or N95 mask.
• Reduce outdoor physical activity, especially if you develop symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
  

Wear the right face mask

Paper dust masks, handkerchiefs and bandanas do not filter out fine particles from smoke.

The face masks that best protect your lungs are:

• P2
• N95
• KN95.

You can buy them from some chemists and hardware shops.

Before wearing one of these masks, be aware that:

• they make it harder to breathe normally, so seek medical advice before using one if you have a pre-existing heart or lung condition
• they can be hot and uncomfortable to wear
• they need to be changed regularly to work properly
• they only work well when the seal around your face is good
• if you usually have facial hair, you need to be clean shaven to get a good seal
• they do not filter out gases like carbon monoxide.

Look after pets and animals

Keep pets and animals inside with clean water, food and bedding.

Pets and animals can accidentally eat ash and soot when they groom themselves. Wash them as you normally would with pet shampoo to clean their fur or feathers.

Signs of smoke inhalation in animals are:

• coughing
• faster breathing rate
• difficulties with breathing.

If your pets display these signs, contact your vet.

If you have concerns about the health of animals, contact the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action(opens in a new window).

Use rainwater tanks safely

Do not use water from your rainwater tank for drinking or bathing if it looks, smells or tastes unusual. This includes using rainwater for your pets.

For more information about bushfires and your private drinking water supply, visit the Department of Health website(opens in a new window).

Information in other languages

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If you can see smoke, but AirWatch is reporting good air quality

Our incident and general air monitoring equipment is located at ground level and only provide data on air quality at that level.

Often smoke plumes rise straight up, meaning there's little to no impact on the air quality at ground level. This is more likely where a fire is burning at especially high temperatures.

In other weather conditions, when a layer of cool air is covered by warm air, smoke may become ‘trapped’, and unable to rise. This can result in poor air quality at ground level during fire events.

If you can smell smoke from an incident

During an incident, if you can smell smoke and are at no risk from fire, we advise:

• staying inside to try to avoid smoke
• avoid the incident area, if possible.