6/27/14 3:00 pm –
We are expecting wood smoke and particulate matter levels from the fires outside Apache County to affect our communities this summer depending on fire conditions and wind direction.
Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gasses and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.
How to tell if smoke is affecting you
Smoke can cause –
Coughing
A scratchy throat
Irritated sinuses
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Headaches
Stinging eyes
A runny nose
If you have a heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse. Because heart and lung diseases are more common in the elderly and smokers, their risk of symptoms increases.
People who have heart disease might experience –
Chest pain
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and are concerned, contact your health care provider.
Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in the following ways:
Inability to breathe normally
Cough with or without mucus
Chest discomfort
Wheezing and shortness of breath
When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.
Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Children are also more likely to active outdoors.
The following are ways to protect your health and limit exposure to wildfire smoke:
Monitor the air quality across the state including Show Low and Springerville by clicking on this link: http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx. The purpose of this web page is to provide to the public in near real time, data recorded by the Portable Particulate Monitor Network.
If you are advised to stay indoors, keep the indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one. Keeping it on the recirculate setting and be sure to use a clean filter (preferably a HEPA filter) to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.
Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles, fire places or gas stoves. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Do not smoke because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
Avoid physical exertion.
Keep airways moist by drinking plenty of water.
Sources of information in Apache County are:
Web:
https://311info.net/
http://www.co.apache.az.us/Departments/EmergencyRisk/Emergency.htm
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/ApacheCountyPublicHealth
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apache-County-Emergency-Management
###
Smoke Health Advisory
Reply
