Natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, can leave much debris. Some of this debris may be burned during cleaning. Smoke from these outdoor fires is unhealthy for you to breathe.

Smoke you may cause coughing. It can cause shortness of breath or chest tightness. It can also lift your eyes, nose or throat.

These problems can begin very shortly after you breathe the smoke. You may have little warning, especially if you have a lung or heart disease. Babies, children, pregnant women, seniors and persons with chronic diseases such as asthma are more likely to smoke.

Check with your local health and safety officials to know when the lights are in your area. If you smell or smoke, or know that fires are nearby, you can take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

* Leave the area if you are more at risk from breathing smoke.
* Limit your exposure to smoke outside and inside.
* Stay indoors and use your air conditioner. If you do not have air conditioning or smoke is likely to get inside your house, leave the area until the smoke is completely gone.
* Avoid activities which impose additional requirements on the lungs and heart. These include exercising or physical tasks, both outside and inside.
* Make sure you take all your medicines as directed by your doctor. Contact your doctor if your condition worsens.
* Dust masks, bandanas, or other tissues (even if wet) will not protect you against the smoke.