NCCMT
 
McMaster
Thanks! Your email address has been subscribed.

Wildfires Public Health Messaging

Rapid Review: What effect does public health messaging about wildfire smoke have on behaviours and human health outcomes?

The evidence is uncertain as to best practices for public health messaging about wildfire smoke to affect behaviours and human health outcomes.

Citation:

Neil-Sztramko, S.E., Gentles, S.J., Clark, E., Caldwell, S., Camargo, K., Leung, T., Traynor, R.L., Dobbins, M. (2025, May 30). Rapid Review: What effect does public health messaging about wildfire smoke have on behaviours and human health outcomes? National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools’ Rapid Evidence Service. https://nccmt.ca/pdfs/res/wildfire-messaging

Public health topic area:

Public Health

Review question:
Population
General population exposed in residential environments (both indoor and outdoor), clean air spaces, public/institutional buildings (e.g., schools, daycares, malls, libraries, community centres, healthcare centres, long-term care centres, etc.), vehicles
Intervention
Public messaging issued by public health organizations or governing bodies, including through the media, regarding reducing impact of wildfires smoke including (but not limited to): reduce time spent outdoors, reduce physical activity outdoors, cancel outdoor events, use air conditioning, seek cool environments, prioritize cooling over clear air, shutting windows, using air cleaners, mask wearing, air filtration or cleaning
Comparisons
Any (e.g., no public health messaging, different messages) or no comparator
Outcomes
Any direct or indirect, acute or long-term health outcomes; use of emergency services, emergency room visits, or hospitalizations; behaviour change, and related psychological outcomes (e.g., knowledge, attitudes and intentions)
Setting
Any country
Context
During combustion-derived air pollution episodes that may be caused by fire (wildland, coal mine fires, peat fires, interface fires, landscape fires, agricultural fires, prescribed burns, industrial fires, landfill fires, tire fires, any multi-day structural fires (e.g., 9/11), and residential wood combustion (i.e., wood stoves), including studies that use source attribution methods)
Search Updated:

Feb 6, 2025

Review Completed:

May 30, 2025

Current Version #1 Access the review
Save Save Saved

Have a COVID-19 Question?

Submit your questions to the NCCMT’s Rapid Evidence Service team at nccmt@mcmaster.ca.

Please note, questions are prioritized and completed as our capacity allows.

Want to know when a review is added or updated?

Enter your email below to receive notification of new or updated reviews.

Looking for something else?

The NCCMT hosts rapid reviews on a variety of topics on our rapid review repository. Click here to go to the repository.