Breathing Through the Smoke: A Wake-Up Call
By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita) — Sep 7, 2025
The other day I decided to ride over to Jericho. Not the brightest idea, as it turns out. I’ve been dizzy for two days since — the wildfire smoke clinging to me long after I left the beach. Even just cleaning house in Surrey the other day, I could feel it in my lungs. ๐
The funny part? The long bus ride back was actually a relief. Air conditioning, filtered air, and hardly anyone on board — most people are staying inside, and for good reason. The empty seats and that cool breath of AC felt like a tiny mercy. ๐๐จ
Why We’re Breathing Smoke
These forest fires are more than just “out there somewhere.” They’re here in our lungs, our bodies, our everyday lives. The smoke blankets the city because of dry conditions, high winds, and the sheer scale of the fires across B.C. and beyond. ๐ฒ๐ฅ
It’s not a new pattern for me: the last five out of six years I’ve left for Mexico during this season because the air here was just too hard to breathe. It’s becoming a pattern—and that pattern is a warning. ✈️☀️
My mom lived in Lake County back in the early 2000s. They had terrible smoke back then too. It wore her down and contributed to her health struggles. I can’t help but see echoes of that every time I step outside and smell the air. ๐ฅบ
Precautions to Take
If the smoke is getting to you (and it gets to me), here are simple things that help:
- Stay inside when air quality is poor. Keep windows closed. ๐
- Use an air purifier if you can — even a small HEPA unit helps. ๐ฌ️
- Wear a well-fitted N95/KN95 mask outdoors, especially if you’re sensitive. ๐ท
- Take short breaks in cleaner-air places (malls, buses with AC, libraries). ๐️
- Limit strenuous outdoor activity until things improve. ๐ซ๐♀️
A Bigger Picture
We have deep empathy for everyone with breathing and heart issues right now — those people are suffering most. But we also need to wake up. Every time we drive that car and click “order now” online, we’re adding to the chain: shipping, fuel, consumption. All of it feeds into the climate shifts that make these fires worse.
We are part of nature, not outside of it. The smoke is a reminder: what we do comes back to us. Maybe this haze can help us see more clearly. ๐ญ๐ซ️
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