How does smoke, haze impact athletes in the Pacific Northwest?

The Seahawks practiced outdoors in the haze at the VMAC in Renton Wednesday, and the players could feel it.

"It was harder today than it was since I've been here to catch your breath," said Defensive End Branden Jackson.

The poor air quality impacted many high school football players too. Wednesday was the first day of football practice and the Foster High School Bulldogs were forced to practice inside.

The varsity team used the gym at Showalter Middle School next door, because the floors had just been redone at Foster High School.

Coach Elijah Ruhl said he wanted to make sure the players were safe so he moved practice inside.

“We’ve already had some people that had some health complications around the state and around the state and around the country, heat stroke. We don’t want to put them in a situation that could be adverse for them," Coach Ruhl said. ”I had a conversation with my athletic director earlier today and he said the air is worse than Beijing right now, so we can’t practice outside.”

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KIRO-7 found some athletes wearing masks so they could get outdoors.

Michael Pruitt and his friend Geoffrey Crofoot were getting ready to ride from Green Lake to the Eastside on Wednesday afternoon. After poor air quality cancelled their ride yesterday, today they decided to wear masks.

Due to the poor air quality, pulmonary physicians like Dr. Sverre Vedal of UW Medicine are providing unusual advice.

"Those of us in public health hate to recommend not exercising," Vedal said. "But in situations like this, we know that your exposure is enhanced by exercising, the increased breathing you do as a result of exercise, so being a little bit judicious about heavy exercise is probably a prudent thing to do."

Vedal says staying indoors reduces exposure, but doesn't eliminate it.

That's because some of the particles from wildfire smoke are very small.

"You can't block those out, they come indoors very readily," Vedal said.

Vedal says an indoor air cleaner with a HEPA filter can help.

Cox Media Group