— from Washington State Department of Health —
As summer and dry weather approaches, officials at the Washington State Department of Health are urging everyone in Washington to prepare for smoky days with unhealthy air quality.
What people can do now:
- Identify air quality reports for your area. The Washington Smoke Information Blog has a map of current fires and air quality reports statewide. EPA’s Smoke Sense mobile app has location-specific information on smoke and health impacts.
- If you or a family member has heart or lung disease, including asthma, ask your doctor what precautions should be taken when air quality is impacted by smoke.
- Have necessary medication and recommended supplies on hand.
- Buy a portable air cleaner with a high efficiency HEPA filter and create a “clean” room to spend time in when the air isn’t healthy. Select a room with no fireplace, and few windows and/or doors.
- Find information about health impacts from smoke and more tips on how to stay healthy when smoke levels are high on the department’s website.
While breathing smoke isn’t good for anyone, some people are more likely to have health problems when air quality isn’t good. Sensitive groups include children under 18 and adults over 65, people with heart and lung diseases, people with illnesses and colds, people who have had a stroke, pregnant women, and people who smoke. It is especially important for these people to reduce exposures by limiting outdoor activity and staying indoors with cleaner air when it’s smoky outside.
Symptoms from exposure to smoky air can range from minor to life-threatening and include watery or dry eyes, coughing or wheezing, throat and sinus irritation, phlegm, shortness of breath, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and chest pain. People experiencing serious symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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Meteorological sciences guy, Cliff Mass (blogspot.com) at UW looks closely at outlook for this summer. Has pretty solid reasons/evidence for above normal ground water supplies, coastal/inland precipitation for us all on the West Coast. Is a bit concerned that local media (e.g. Times) may be a bit too dramatic about fires/smoke, leading to public apathy in future times when actual dangerous conditions threaten. Something about crying “Wolf!” too many times.