How to Keep Children Safe from Wildfire Smoke<\/p>\n
Reporter<\/p>\n
September 5, 2026 | 12:07 pm<\/p>\n
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is grappling with weeks-long blazes\nacross Kalimantan and Sumatra, sending toxic haze and smoke across the\nsea into swathes of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
In worst-hit regions like Malaysia\u2019s Sarawak and some parts of the\nKalimantan province in Indonesia, air quality crossed the \u201chazardous\u201d\nlevel. In Pontianak, West Kalimantan, for example, readings from IQAir\u2019s\nAir Quality Index (AQI) reached 581, while worse air is recorded in East\nKotawaringin in Central Kalimantan with AQI reading 681.<\/p>\n
Wildfires and the subsequent haze have also been linked to surging\nrespiratory infections across the region, with the Indonesian Ministry\nof Health reporting over 50,000 cases between July and August. Over\n12,000 of those affected are children under the age of five, according\nto the BBC.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, The Straits Times reported a 259 percent surge in asthma\ncases across Malaysia, as the country chokes on smoke and haze wafting\nfrom neighboring Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Forest fires continue to rage across Indonesia, as El Nino-fueled\ndryness persists. Long-term exposure to haze poses far-reaching health\nrisks to anyone in its path, especially to children.<\/p>\n
How wildfire smoke affects children\u2019s health<\/p>\n
Wildfire smoke contains dirt, dust, soot, and something called\nPM2.5\u2014a fine particulate matter 30 times smaller than a single strand of\nhair. It is especially dangerous to your health, as the microscopic size\nmeans it can fester in your lungs and enter the bloodstream.<\/p>\n
Citing CBC, PM2.5 exposure could cause a list of short-term and\nlong-term health effects, including irritation, shortness of breath,\nreduced lung functions, or prolonged heart and lung conditions. Wildfire\nsmoke is also linked to mental health conditions and serious illnesses\nlike cancer.<\/p>\n
Children are among the most vulnerable to toxic haze\u2014alongside the\nelderly, pregnant women, and people with heart disease or asthma\u2014due to\ntheir developing immune systems and lungs. In infants, this could mean\nearly diabetes, low birth weight, birth defects, and death.<\/p>\n
As children grow more active and spend more time outdoors, wildfire\nsmoke increases the risk of respiratory diseases and asthma,\nhypertension, obesity, lower brain function, and a weaker immune system.\nChildren are also more vulnerable to experiencing stress and mental\nhealth effects from the disasters around them.<\/p>\n
Signs of smoke exposure in children<\/p>\n
The UN agency for children, UNICEF, listed physical symptoms in\nchildren who breathe in smoke and haze from wildfires:<\/p>\n
Chest pain and tightness<\/p><\/li>\n
Trouble breathing<\/p><\/li>\n
Wheezing<\/p><\/li>\n
Coughing<\/p><\/li>\n
Burning or irritation in the nose, throat and eyes<\/p><\/li>\n
Dizziness<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The agency also advises parents and caregivers to take children who\nexperience breathing problems, difficulty in falling asleep, or other\nnoticeable health problems to the closest health facility.<\/p>\n
How to protect children from wildfire smoke<\/p>\n
Climate change exacerbates the range and impact of wildfires, making\npreparations before the first fire broke out all the more important.\nUNICEF advises parents and caregivers to sit children down and talk with\nthem about the risks of wildfires in an age-appropriate way.<\/p>\n
Families are also advised to create an \u201cemergency kit\u201d to take if\nwildfires force them to evacuate. The kit could include non-perishable\nfoods, medicines, cash, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, N95\/KN95\nmasks, flashlight, radio, batteries, water, and copies of important\ndocuments. An emergency evacuation plan, at home and at the children\u2019s\nschools, must also be available prior to the wildfires.<\/p>\n
What to do during a wildfire?<\/p>\n
Evacuation is advisable if authorities call for it, but if not, stay\nat home and reduce outdoors activities as much as possible. Keep the\ndoors and windows locked at all times. UNICEF also advises limiting\nphysical activity and keeping children hydrated.<\/p>\n
Adults are generally more attuned to their own needs, unlike\nchildren. Thus, it is advisable to check in with kids nearby and ask how\nthey are dealing with the smoke. \u201cDo they have a headache? Are they kind\nof breathing a little bit heavier?\u201d said Stephanie Cleland, a research\nscientist at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Centre for\nLung Health, as quoted from CBC.<\/p>\n
While outdoor activities are generally inadvisable during wildfire or\nhaze conditions, UNICEF advises children\u2014and everybody else\u2014to mask up\nusing N95\/KN95 masks. But it is important to make sure the mask fits\nproperly, fully covering the nose, mouth, and chin, without letting in\nair escape from the edges. Children are not advised to wear masks if\nthey cause breathing difficulty.<\/p>\n
Keep the air indoors clean<\/p>\n
To reduce smoke exposure indoors, it is imperative to keep your\ndoors, windows, and any gaps sealed. CBC cites wet towels as an easily\navailable tool to fill in those gaps. Portable air-cleaning devices\ncould also be used to limit smoke from filling the house. But it is also\nimportant to keep the temperatures inside cool, so if possible, turn on\nair conditioners, fans, or heat pumps.<\/p>\n
Avoid activities that may result in more pollution, including\nsmoking, burning waste, sweeping and vacuuming dust, frying foods, or\ncleaning with chemicals.<\/p>\n
Read: Wildfires Burn 60% of Bornean Orangutan Habitat<\/p>\n
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google\nNews<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-to-keep-children-safe-from-wildfire-smoke-1788587522", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }