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West coast friends, I hope you’re staying safe amid all the shenanery with the fires and smoke. 
Here are some tips for dealing with the smoke/smog that I found useful when I was in Australia earlier this year during the bushfire season:
Here are some tips for dealing with the smoke/smog that I found useful when I was in Australia earlier this year during the bushfire season:
Caveat: these are things that helped me, so YMMV. For context, I was mostly experiencing the effects of smoke, rather then being in the direct path of the fire.
DO NOT GO OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. Even if the sky looks clear, smoke particles can still irritate your eyes and throat. If you have to go outside, do it for a short as you can and wear a mask. I mean, you should be wearing a mask already anyways.
Smoke is also an irritant that causes similar symptoms to allergies (for me anyway) so I found antihistamines helped a little; lozenges and hot lemon/honey drinks were good for scratchy throats. Nasal spray or Vick’s vapor is works too for some people for opening air passages.
My eyes would be dry after being outside for only 10 minutes. Eye drops were helpful for dry/itchy eyes; if you’re in a really bad area or you have sensitive eyes, consider goggles or something as well.
If you have one of those sinus wash/Neti pot things, that can help clear out gunk that you’ve breathed in that’s accumulated in your sinuses. Not sure if you need this? You’ll know when you blow your nose and gray shit comes out in your snot. 
Stay hydrated. You are already stressed out with everything else happening so this is both a self care and a “this dry ass smoky air is going to dehydrate you” thing. Moisturize. If you need more, the “bowl of hot water and a towel over your head” steaming thing can help too.
If you can filter or purify your environment, do that too! You can make a cheap filtration system with a furnace filter and box fan; google that if you want. If you’re using fans or AC, check your filters and make sure they’re clean to start with. Air purifiers are also cool.
Be prepared for headaches, sore throat/eyes, being more tired/irritated than normal in the coming weeks, even after the smoke is gone. There are links between poor air quality and increased cases of asthma and pneumonia in the long term, as well.
Take care of yourself in the months to come. You’re living through not just one, but a series of environmental and social disasters. Be kind, stay hydrated, get enough rest. Here’s my ferret Bella giving you a sleepy high five for reading through all of this.
