For those of you struggling to breath, the voggy conditions can be a serious danger to your health. Here to talk about the conditions and what you can do to avoid the hazy air is Gene Evans, the executive director of the American Lung Association of Hawaii.

If vog will be heavy in your area, take these extra precautions, especially if you suffer from a chronic breathing problem such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema:

• Do not smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Drink plenty of fluids to loosen mucus and help you cough.
• Stay indoors and use an air-conditioner, if possible.
• If you have medications, put them in a convenient place. It is important to continue taking your medication. Medications you need for an acute episode should be readily available. If you don't have any medications, but feel that you might need them, call your physician. Make sure you have clear instructions from your physician as to what to do if your lung condition suddenly worsens.
• Assume that your lung condition may deteriorate during periods of vog and contact your physician as soon as any problem develops. Do not allow a respiratory condition to linger, especially if there is a high concentration of vog.
• Monitor the wind direction to find out if vog will be blown in your area that day. You can find out the wind direction by watching the television weather report, listening to a weather radio or by checking the weather section of your local newspaper.
• A paper, gauze surgical, or non-toxic dust mask may be helpful. NOTE: If you find it more difficult to breath with the mask on, don't use it. A mask is the least important of these suggestions.
• While these suggestions are intended primarily for persons having chronic lung diseases (asthma, bronchitis, emphysema), they are also useful for normally healthy persons during volcanic haze episodes.

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