Air quality woes as athletes, powow participants arrive

Air quality throughout region will vary this week, depending on fire activity and changing weather conditions.

With 99 soccer teams taking part in the annual Kamloops Invitational Socccer Tournament and an influx of visitors for the annual Kamloopa Powwow, the quality of the air will be on the minds of many.

With 165 new fires being sparked this week by lightning storms, and with two fires — Lillooet and Bonaparte Lake — adding to Kamloops’ air-quality woes, the Interior Health Authority is advising of steps people can take to reduce their exposure to smoke.

People with heart or lung conditions may be more sensitive to the effects of smoke from forest fires and should watch for worsening of their symptoms. If this happens, affected individuals should take steps to reduce their exposure to smoke and contact their health care provider for advice.

There are some actions you can take to reduce the health effects of smoke in the air:

• Use common sense regarding outdoor physical activity – if your breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop or reduce the activity.

• Stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.

• Smoke levels may be lower indoors, however levels of smoke particles will still be increased. If you stay indoors, be aware of your symptoms.

• Consider visiting a location like a shopping mall with cooler filtered air. Keep in mind that staying indoors may help you stay cool and provide some relief from the smoke, however many air conditioning systems do not filter the air or improve indoor air quality.

• Keep indoor air cleaner by avoiding smoking or burning other materials.

• You may be able to reduce your exposure to smoke by moving to cleaner air. Conditions can vary dramatically by area and elevation.

• Residents with asthma or other chronic illness should activate their asthma or personal care plan.

• Pay attention to local air quality reports, air quality may be poor even though smoke may not be visible.

• Commercially available HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters can further reduce poor indoor air quality near the device.

HealthLink BC is available toll free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 8-1-1 to answer health related questions, or via the web at healthlinkbc.ca/kbaltindex.asp.

If the public wants to know the air quality health index for their region, log on to airhealthbc.ca.