Don't Sweep Volcanic Ash! Follow These Tips from a Doctor

Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau has spread to various areas, including Jakarta. This volcanic ash is not a trivial matter for health. For this reason, doctor and entrepreneur Tirta Mandira Hudhi, known as Doctor Tirta, has shared a number of steps that the public should take.

According to Doctor Tirta, people who do outdoor activities still need to wear masks, even if the falling volcanic ash appears thin.

“The first thing is, wherever you go, for outdoor activities, even if the ash is thin, you must wear a mask,” said Tirta in a post on his Instagram account @dr.tirta, quoted on Sunday (6/8/2026).

He explained that volcanic ash inhaled too frequently can enter the respiratory tract and trigger allergic reactions. This condition can also cause disorders of the upper respiratory tract and even bronchitis in more severe cases.

The second step relates to how to clean volcanic ash that has settled on houses and yards. Tirta urged the public not to sweep the ash because this action can actually make the ash fly around again and increase the risk of inhalation.

“Don’t sweep it, it will fly around more, causing more shortness of breath and coughing. Spray it with water, yes, spray it with water,” he said.

Furthermore, the public also needs to be careful when cleaning ash that sticks to the face. Tirta suggested using a proper facial wash and not immediately rubbing the face to remove the ash.

“If it gets on your face, actually use a proper facial wash, don’t rub it directly, because it can cause serious scratches,” he said.

He also asked the public to be understanding if the volcanic ash causes an unusual smell.

“Be understanding if the smell is a bit strange, it is volcanic ash after all,” he said.

Meanwhile, for people who regularly exercise outdoors, he advised temporarily moving these activities indoors. This step is considered to reduce the risk of inhaling larger amounts of volcanic ash.

“For friends who like outdoor exercise, switch to indoor for now. Rather than risk inhaling more and more volcanic ash, unless you want to wear a mask during outdoor exercise,” he said.

As for the right type of mask, according to a lung doctor, it is a respirator mask that can filter particulate matter particles. Using the right mask will help minimise the impact.

“The ideal one is a mask that we call a respirator, which can filter particulate matter particles, such as the N95 or KN95 mask,” said lung professor from RSUP Persahabatan, Prof Dr dr Agus Dwi Susanto, SpP(K), quoted from Detikcom.

“Or other respirators that have the ability to filter particulate matter can also be used; this can also be seen from the material used and whether it has filtering capabilities,” he added.

For children, Prof Agus suggested special children’s masks that are also widely sold in the market. “Children are indeed not advised to wear N95 because it is quite stuffy,” he explained.

In addition, it is also important to maintain indoor air quality as much as possible. Besides closing doors and windows, using an air purifier and avoiding other pollutant sources such as burning candles or cigarettes is also recommended.

Equally important, the immune system also needs to be maintained. Adequate rest and balanced nutrition will help the body ward off adverse health effects.

“Water intake must also be sufficient; when it is like this, drinking plenty of water is recommended,” he explained.