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Articles on Bushfire health impacts

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Breathing bushfire smoke can be particularly dangerous for people with pre-existing conditions. Erik Anderson/AAP

How does bushfire smoke affect our health? 6 things you need to know

Millions of Australians far from the bushfires’ direct path have been affected by smoke haze. Here’s everything we know about the effects of bushfire smoke on our health.
Firefighters in Kangaroo Island, South Australia. First responders’ experiences on the front line make them susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems. David Mariuz/AAP

To improve firefighters’ mental health, we can’t wait for them to reach out – we need to ‘reach in’

Emergency service workers already have poorer mental health than the rest of us. In the wake of this bushfire crisis, we need to make the well-being of our first responders a top priority.
Large and small particulates in fire smoke can irritate the the thin lining of the respiratory tract, causing throat irritation, coughing and breathing difficulties. Erik Anderson/AAP

I’m struggling to breathe with all the bushfire smoke – could I have undiagnosed asthma?

Bushfire smoke is making it difficult for some people to breathe. Those with asthma are at particular risk, but not everyone with the condition has been diagnosed. Here’s what to look out for.
Of course young children notice parents crying but they also notice when they’re unusually preoccupied or irritable. NinaViktoria/Shutterstock

Babies and toddlers might not know there’s a fire but disasters still take their toll

Babies and toddlers might not be able to communicate well or at all with words, but they show their distress during disasters through behaviour. Here’s how parents can help them cope.

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