Smoke Inhalation Health Video

Video Transcript

SKYLAR ULRICH, MD: I'm Dr. Skylar Ulrich. I'm going to talk about smoke inhalation. Smoke inhalation results from prolonged exposure to smoke fumes. The symptoms of smoke inhalation may be headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, change in mental status, cough, or difficulty breathing. The treatment of smoke inhalation is generally supportive and depends on the extent of the exposure. Supportive care may be enough; however, in other cases of severe smoke inhalation, supplemental oxygen may be required and/or intubation in some cases. It's very important to monitor a person who has been exposed to excessive smoke inhalation for the development of symptoms of pulmonary compromise. Prevention of smoke inhalation is making sure that in areas where there is a fire, there is good ventilation, leaving windows open, making sure you're not standing downwind from an outdoor fire, taking care with barbecue pits, and being careful in the kitchen while cooking.