Which action is most effective to reduce allergens immediately before discharge?

Which action is most effective to reduce allergens immediately before discharge?

• A. Stop smoking cigarettes in the car.
• B. Install a high-efficiency air filter (HEPA) in the home.
• C. Remove the family dog from home.
• D. Wet dusting floors.

Answer: (A)

Stopping smoking in the car is the best choice because secondhand smoke is a potent irritant and allergen that can trigger and worsen respiratory symptoms. In the enclosed car environment, smoke concentrations are high, so eliminating this exposure right away provides the quickest relief for someone being discharged and about to return home. The other options help reduce allergens but are slower or less immediately impactful. Installing a HEPA filter can improve air quality, but its benefit depends on setup, maintenance, and time for air turnover. Removing the dog reduces pet dander but may not be feasible to implement quickly, and the patient will still encounter other sources of allergens. Wet dusting floors helps with settled dust but doesn’t address ongoing airborne allergens promptly and may have limited effect in the short term.

Stopping smoking in the car is the best choice because secondhand smoke is a potent irritant and allergen that can trigger and worsen respiratory symptoms. In the enclosed car environment, smoke concentrations are high, so eliminating this exposure right away provides the quickest relief for someone being discharged and about to return home.

The other options help reduce allergens but are slower or less immediately impactful. Installing a HEPA filter can improve air quality, but its benefit depends on setup, maintenance, and time for air turnover. Removing the dog reduces pet dander but may not be feasible to implement quickly, and the patient will still encounter other sources of allergens. Wet dusting floors helps with settled dust but doesn’t address ongoing airborne allergens promptly and may have limited effect in the short term.