Wildfire smoke can hurt children. Here's what parents should do

Wildfire smoke, including the haze now drifting into the United States from Canadian fires, is an environmental health threat to everyone, especially children, whose lungs are still developing.

Children's lungs are still growing, which means they're "especially vulnerable" to smoke, ash and other particulate matter from wildfires, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Parents need to create a safe space for their children "to come to you if they're not feeling well," says Laura Schifter, senior fellow at The Aspen Institute and founder & director of This Is Planet Ed.

That's because children are different from adults. They "breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food per pound of body weight than adults," says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Danger from wildfire smoke may not be uppermost in the minds of parents who haven't had to deal with it in the past.

"Because this is a new experience, some parents might not know," Schifter says. "It might not be the best day for my kid to go to the playground right now and be running around."

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"I think there are a lot of gaps in understanding the risks related to wildfire smoke and air quality, especially in areas not accustomed to seeing wildfire smoke," Schifter says.

Though the pattern varies, wildfire-smoke problems have become more common and more widespread in the U.S., according to the EPA. Those problems have translated into "substantial national public health impacts."

Since 2016, wildfire smoke has reversed air quality improvements in nearly three-quarters of states in the contiguous United States, reported a 2023 study published in Nature.

What risks do children face from wildfire smoke?

Children "may not be able to break down and get rid of harmful contaminants that enter their body," the CDC says. That includes the tiny PM2.5 particulates from wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke contains extraordinarily small particulates – a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets – that are tiny enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.

The smoke isn't simply "dirty air." It can contain toxic chemicals from burning homes, vehicles or other material.

Particles in children's lungs can cause irritation and breathing problems, especially for those who have allergies, asthma or other conditions, says the EPA.

Fire smoke causes inflammation which narrows airway passages, according to the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. "That causes shortness of breath and tightness in the chest."

How you can protect your children from wildfire smoke

Kids need to be able to speak up for themselves, Schifter says. "They need to be aware of what's happening with their body, and there's going to be developmental differences."

"Younger children might not know what's abnormal or not. The first thing is helping children be able to understand and recognize when things are not going right."

The CDC has a list of suggestions to keep children safe:

• Monitor the Air Quality Index: AirNow.gov or your weather app can tell you the air quality in your area. A child's activity should be monitored or changed if air quality gets worse.
• Keep children indoors: Children, especially those with asthma, allergies or other breathing problems, should stay inside if air quality is bad.
• Keep inside air clean: Make sure doors and windows are closed, and shut off fresh-air intake on air conditioners.
• Watch for problems: Symptoms that may signal wildfire smoke exposure in children include coughing, wheezing, tight chest, trouble breathing, burning eyes/throat, and similar signs. If symptoms occur, seek medical care immediately.

Children should not rely on masks (even N95 masks) for protection from smoke, the EPA states. These masks are not designed to fit and protect children from wildfire smoke.

Parents should be aware of problems that can be caused by wildfire smoke and heat, Schifter says.

"Heat and wildfire smoke combined create a recipe of real risk for children because those two things are are co-occurring and both of them can impact each other," she says.

Telling your children "Let me know immediately if you're feeling this, so they know that they can come to you, is a really important thing," Schifter says.

Contributing: Greta Cross, Jeanine Santucci

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Environmental Protection Agency

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wildfire smoke can hurt children. Here's what parents should do

Reporting by Janet Loehrke and George Petras, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 4:11 PM.