Educating families about the impacts of wildfire smoke on children’s health: opportunities for healthcare professionals

Abstract

A dramatic wildfire smoke season emerged in 2023.Chilean wildfire smoke blanketed communities across Chile and Argentina in February.In June, smoke covered parts of Scotland following fires in the Highlands while Canadian wildfires caused hazardous air conditions throughout North America.By August, damage from wildfires had broken multiple global records, devastating communities in Hawaii, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean.The chance of adverse health events from wildfire smoke exposure increased even in populations previously considered less vulnerable.As trusted messengers, healthcare professionals are well positioned to advise parents about potential health consequences of wildfire smoke.Historically, paediatricians have not discussed such climate-related hazards during office visits. 1This absence of counselling may partially reflect paediatricians' selfperceived lack of knowledge about how to effectively communicate their harms.However, wildfire smoke is a growing global health hazard for children, and parents are increasingly turning to paediatricians for advice. 1 2 Children often spend more time outdoors than adults, breathe faster and take in more air relative to their body weight; their lungs are also still developing and maturing.Their nasal passages filter relatively less air pollution, allowing more particulate matter (PM) to penetrate deeper into their lungs. 2This is problematic because wildfire-smoke PM is more toxic than pollution from other sources (eg, traffic). 3Indeed, scientists continue to

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