What Can Health Care Professionals Advise Patients About When it is Safe to Return to Areas Impacted by Wildfires?

When advising patients, health care professionals should remember key requirements for children to return to an area impacted by wildfires include restored drinking water and sewage removal, safe road conditions, removal of ash and debris, and structurally sound homes. Schools and outdoor play areas should be cleaned, cleared of hazards and made ready for use. Persisting hazards should be isolated and made inaccessible to children. Children, and whenever possible, teens, should only be permitted to return after affected areas have been cleaned up. Children should be the last group to return. These recommendations also apply to pregnant women.