Fires: what are the dangers associated with smoke, and how can you protect yourself against them?

Many fires strike France, Tuesday July 19, in particular the Gironde. Lhas smoke isit dangerous? “The first danger of a fire, if you are near it, is asphyxiation [et] discomfort, because you will inhale carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and you will have this famous discomfort. Even if you are at a distance, the simple fact of smelling the smoke means that there are fine particles which will enter to the depths of your lungs”explains the doctor and journalist Damian Mascret, on the set of 19/20. Results : eyes, nose and throat are irritated. As the smoke enters the lungs, the cough comes, and you feel difficulty breathing.

How to protect yourself from it? First of all, vulnerable people, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory diseases should take special care. “The priority is to avoid going out. We close everything at home. If we are in the car, we must put on the interior recycling and if we still have to go out, we must put on a mask (…) FFP2“, concludes the journalist.