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8 Tips on Protecting Yourself from Air Pollution

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at San Francisco chapter.

This past week, the Bay Area has been exposed to some serious bad air quality due to the Wine Country fires. The air quality might be different depending on what part you live in . However, breathing in air that doesn’t appear to be bad on the outside doesn’t mean you aren’t breathing in bad air. If you’ve been exposed to this poor quality air and are sick as a result of it, here are a few remedies and tips to get better.

 

Medical face mask

 

You might think you look silly wearing this, but a medical face mask will definitely protect you from inhaling smoke. Be sure to get one at your campus student union or at the grocery store.

 

Inhaler

 

If you have asthma, please, please, please take your inhaler with you if you decide to go outside.

 

Cold medicine or allergy medicine

 

If you’re already sick from the smoke and are beginning to get cold symptoms, take cold or allergy medicine. You don’t want others to get sick because of you, too. (Also, don’t forget tissues to wipe your nose!)

 

Eye drops

 

If you know you have sensitive eyes, carry some eye drops with you.

 

Tea with honey

The most important remedy when it comes to a sore throat. Trust me, you’ll end up with  a sore throat or cough if you go outside.

 

Soup

Along with tea and honey, soup is another good remedy for when you’re sick. The warmth from the soup will soothe your nose and throat.

 

VapoRub

 

9/10 abuelitas recommend VapoRub when you are sick. Apply VapoRub around your nostrils and on your chest. Bam. You’re cured.

 

Avoid going outside

Of course, the most obvious way of protecting yourself from the bad air quality is staying indoors.

 

Be sure to take care of yourself if you decide to go outside during the bad air quality this week.

All photos are from Google Images.

Alondra Vega

San Francisco '19

Senior at San Francisco State University. 
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Valerie Duarte

San Francisco

An 18-year-old journalism student at SFSU. Los Angeles native. Very indecisive. Likes to have her cake and matcha lattes, too.