Top Tips for Taking a Breath of Clean Air

1. On the home front. Make sure your home is well-ventilated and air your house for 5-10 minutes several times a day, especially during and after cooking, taking a shower, vacuuming or cleaning with disinfectants and sprays. Maintain gas appliances and make sure that chimneys are cleaned and well-ventilated, burning only dry and untreated wood. Install alarms for smoke and carbon monoxide. Be aware of allergens and dusts generated from pets, plants, carpets and damp mould. Smoking should never be permitted indoors and consider purchasing an air purifier to clean the air.
2. On the trot. Make sure to exercise every day, but avoid exercising during rush hour or on busy streets with lots of traffic fumes. Keep a healthy distance from the road, or junctions where cars are idling. Seek out green spaces and public parks if you can. For daily air pollution updates, check out airquality.ie
3. On the road. If you’re a car driver, think about purchasing a vehicle that uses the least fuel or is least polluting. Car sharing will also ease the pressure of the school run or work commute. Turn your engine off when stationary, reduce your speed, and have your car serviced regularly. If possible, walk, cycle or use public transport, instead of driving the car.
4. On the shop floor. A total of 15-20 per cent of COPD cases are thought to be work-related. Consider if you are inhaling dusts, gases or fumes at work. From building sites to garages, factories to farms, think about how your work environment can be made safer for you, and ensure you wear any recommended personal protective equipment. Companies might consider periodic screening of exposed workers to identify any early signs of adverse respiratory effects. Take the Your Lungs at Work test which assesses the impact of your workplace on your lung health: https://yourlungsatwork.europeanlung.org/en/quiz
5. Quit smoking. If you smoke, the most important step that you can take to breathe clean air is to quit. Containing at least 250 carcinogenic or toxic chemicals, second-hand smoke can also harm people who do not smoke. In addition, vaping impairs respiratory health and is particularly risky at a younger age, as addictive nicotine exposure can lead to long-term tobacco use. Vaping in children also impacts concentration and can have a negative impact on the developing brain. Why not consider quitting smoking for 28 days and take back control – to order a quit kit, or to talk to an HSE stop smoking adviser, check out www.quit.ie or Freephone 1800 201 203