How to Prevent Asthma Triggered in Wood Shop

Asthma affects millions of people, and no one is quite sure what causes it. Asthma attacks happen when the bronchial airways close up due to an allergy, irritant, or other trigger. Often, when people work in a wood shop or take wood shop class, asthma can flare up, making it very difficult to work. In a wood shop there are several substances, including wood chips, dust, and pollen, that irritate the lungs and airways.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth handkerchief
• Inhaler
• Antihistamine such as Zyrtec OTC or Benadryl

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Instructions

Wet Face Mask

• 1

  Take an antihistamine pill, such as Zyrtec OTC, before going into the shop.

• 2

  Wet the cloth handkerchief with cool water.

• 3

  Wrap the handkerchief around your nose and mouth and tie it in the back. Using a wet handkerchief as a face mask prevents the tiniest particles from making it through the mask, because they are caught in the water.

• 4

  Rewet the handkerchief often to wash out particles and sweat.

• 5

  Use your inhaler if the antihistamine and the wet handkerchief aren't enough.