Free online continuing education course on the health effects of wildfire smoke

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering a free online continuing education course on the health effects of wildfire smoke. The program is designed to help healthcare professionals learn about the health effects associated with wildfire smoke, so they can inform their patients about actions to take before and during a wildfire to reduce smoke exposure. The course covers the following main topics: Public health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure—This section discusses why wildfire smoke is a health concern, health effects attributed to wildfire smoke, and which populations and life stages are at greater risk of experiencing health effects due to wildfire smoke exposure. Air quality and smoke—This segment examines the challenges in predicting smoke concentrations, the importance of educating patients in wildfire-prone areas, and the Air Quality Index. Reducing exposure to wildfire smoke—This portion discusses steps to take before and during a wildfire to reduce smoke exposure, both indoors and outdoors. Resources—Links are provided to factsheets, related websites and other publications. Knowledge check questions—The online course includes 15 continuing education questions to test the reader’s knowledge. They can be answered before starting the course, during the course after each main section, or at the end of the course. References—A reference list for the course is provided. Upon completing the course, which takes about 45 minutes, healthcare providers will be able to: Identify why wildfire smoke exposure is a public health and clinical concern. Identify groups at greater risk from particle pollution in wildfire smoke. Describe health effects that can occur in the general population when exposed to wildfire smoke. Describe health effects that can occur in higher-risk patients when exposed to wildfire smoke. These include patients with cardiovascular or respiratory disease, older adults, children under 18 years of age, pregnant women, outdoor workers and those of lower socioeconomic status. Explain why and how to use the Air Quality Index for advising patients to reduce exposure and protect their health during periods of wildfire smoke. List actions patients can take in advance to prepare for and reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. Identify strategies patients can take to reduce exposure when levels of wildfire smoke are unhealthy. Describe the importance of interprofessional collaboration for increasing the effectiveness of clinician advice to patients on how to reduce health risk during wildfire events. The course stresses that since wildfires can start and spread rapidly, relationships between healthcare team members (e.g., doctors, nurses, pharmacists, asthma educators) should be in place before a crisis begins. Pre-existing partnerships enable rapid response to serious smoke episodes and allow everyone to quickly access and share vital information. Consistent messages about wildfire smoke and health risks from members of the healthcare team will reduce potential public confusion. Reference 1. US Environmental Protection Agency. Wildfire smoke and your patients' health. (accessed June 29, 2023).

Free online continuing education course on the health effects of wildfire smoke

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