As wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, pharmacists can provide crucial support to their patients.
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information is available.
As wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, pharmacists once again find themselves on the front lines of an unfolding disaster.
As of Thursday afternoon (January 9, 2025), 5 fires—the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire, the Lidia Fire, and the Sunset Fire—have burned nearly 29,000 acres of land.1 According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 2000 structures have burned, nearly 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders,2 and the area remains under a red flag warning3 as the Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up speed once more.
As wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, pharmacists can provide crucial support to their patients. | Image credit: Matt Gush - stock.adobe.com
Unlike other natural disasters, such as hurricanes or blizzards, wildfires happen without warning. On high-risk days, the National Weather Service can issue a red flag warning, representing the most extreme fire risk. People living in areas with red flag warnings should expect “extreme, erratic fire behavior”4 and should not engage in any outdoor burning. But wildfires can also start due to a lightning strike, a downed power line, or a faulty electrical connection.
Because of the unpredictable nature of these conflagrations, it can be difficult to prepare for a potential evacuation. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) recommends having an emergency “go bag” ready during fire season.5 In addition to essentials like nonperishable food, potable water, and a first aid kit, a “go bag” should include any necessary medications, both prescription and OTC. While the CDC suggests having 7 to 10 days of medication packed in case of an evacuation order,6 preparedness guidelines from the American Red Cross go a step further, recommending that patients have at least a 1-month supply of medications, packed in a childproof container, on hand.7
Remember the 6 P’s of emergency evacuation:
“Some things I’ve recommended to patients is maintaining a current list of their medications…as well as the dose of those medications and the reason that they are taking it,” said Brad Phillips, PharmD, a clinical assistant professor and assistant director at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy Orlando Campus. Phillips spoke with Drug Topics during the 2024 hurricane season about the importance of disaster preparedness.8
“I also encourage patients to obtain early refills if needed,” Phillips added. During a state of emergency, pharmacists can typically provide medication refills early, but these provisions vary by state.
In California,9 these provisions “permit pharmacies to provide care by waiving requirements that may be impossible to meet during an emergency—including requirements for prescription forms, record keeping, labeling, and other standard pharmacy practices and duties.” Another section of the California Business and Professions Code authorizes pharmacists to “use professional judgement to refill a prescription for a dangerous drug or device without prescriber’s authorization” if failure to refill would interrupt ongoing care or significantly adversely impact a patient’s well-being.
Along with fire comes smoke—and lots of it. The health implications of breathing in wildfire smoke are well-studied, and even short-term exposure can have numerous negative impacts on a person’s health. Exposure concerns are especially acute for children, older adults, and individuals living with respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.10
In addition to the obvious—medications, medical devices, contacts, and glasses—a health care go bag might also include:
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),11 the most effective way for a person to protect themselves from wildfire smoke is to stay indoors and run HEPA-filtered air cleaners. While those living outside mandatory evacuation zones may be able to hunker down, stepping outside and breathing in smoke may be unavoidable. In these cases, the EPA suggests a respirator mask to protect lungs from smoke and ash: a dual-strap N95 or P100 particulate respirator that has been tested and approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These masks will have “NIOSH” and “N95” or “P100” labeling printed on them.
READ MORE: Public Health Resource Center
