688
WOCN21 CWNT 291444
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR THE GREAT SLAVE LAKE AND MACKENZIE RIVER AREAS OF THE NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES
ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
DEPARTMENTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES
AT 8:44 A.M. MDT FRIDAY 29 MARCH 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
=NEW= THEBACHA REGION INCLUDING FT. SMITH - SALT RIVER RESERVE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
==DISCUSSION==
SMOKE IS CAUSING OR EXPECTED TO CAUSE POOR AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED
VISIBILITY.
LOCAL SMOKE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE AREA, GENERATING POOR AIR
QUALITY IN SMOKE OVER THE COMMUNITY OF FORT SMITH.
VISIBILITIES AND AIR QUALITY CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY OVER SHORT
DISTANCES.
WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN BE HARMFUL TO EVERYONE'S HEALTH EVEN AT LOW
CONCENTRATIONS. EVERYONE CAN TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THEIR EXPOSURE TO
WILDFIRE SMOKE.
PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASE (SUCH AS ASTHMA) OR HEART DISEASE, OLDER
ADULTS, CHILDREN, PREGNANT PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS ARE
AT HIGHER RISK OF EXPERIENCING HEALTH EFFECTS CAUSED BY WILDFIRE
SMOKE. SPEAK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ABOUT DEVELOPING A
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WILDFIRE SMOKE EVENTS AND MAINTAINING A SUPPLY
OF NECESSARY MEDICATIONS AT HOME AND ALWAYS CARRYING THESE
MEDICATIONS WITH YOU DURING WILDFIRE SEASON.
STOP OR REDUCE YOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL IF BREATHING BECOMES
UNCOMFORTABLE OR YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR CARE FEEL UNWELL. CONTACT
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY IF YOU DEVELOP
SEVERE SYMPTOMS OR NEED ADVICE.
CHECK THE AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX (AQHI) AND MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS.
PEOPLE RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO SMOKE. MILD IRRITATION AND DISCOMFORT
ARE COMMON, AND USUALLY DISAPPEAR WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS. DRINKING
LOTS OF WATER CAN HELP YOUR BODY COPE WITH THE SMOKE.
IF YOU HAVE AN HVAC SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME, USE THE HIGHEST RATED MERV
FILTER FOR YOUR SYSTEM (IDEALLY RATED 13 OR HIGHER) AND SET THE FAN
TO RECIRCULATE AIR CONSTANTLY. YOU CAN ALSO USE A PORTABLE HIGH
EFFICIENCY PARTICULATE AIR (HEPA) AIR CLEANER. KEEP YOUR DOORS AND
WINDOWS CLOSED IF THE TEMPERATURE IN YOUR HOME IS COMFORTABLE.
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE SMOKE AT A LOCATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE
YOU CAN FIND CLEAN, COOL AIR.
IF YOU MUST SPEND TIME OUTDOORS, A WELL-FITTED RESPIRATOR TYPE MASK
(SUCH AS A NIOSH CERTIFIED N95 OR EQUIVALENT RESPIRATOR) THAT DOES
NOT ALLOW AIR TO PASS THROUGH SMALL OPENINGS BETWEEN THE MASK AND
FACE, CAN HELP REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE FINE PARTICLES IN SMOKE.
THESE FINE PARTICLES GENERALLY POSE THE GREATEST RISK TO HEALTH.
HOWEVER, RESPIRATORS DO NOT REDUCE EXPOSURE TO THE GASES IN WILDFIRE
SMOKE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND REDUCE OR STOP
ACTIVITIES IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS.
BE SURE TO CHECK ON PEOPLE IN YOUR CARE AND THOSE AROUND YOU WHO MAY
BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SMOKE.
REDUCE SOURCES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION. IF YOU CAN, AVOID SMOKING OR
VAPING INDOORS, BURNING INCENSE AND CANDLES, FRYING FOODS, USING
WOOD STOVES AND VACUUMING. DUST ON INDOOR SURFACES CAN BE REMOVED BY
WIPING AND WET MOPPING DURING A POLLUTION EPISODE.
IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY FEELINGS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, OR DEPRESSION,
CONTACT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR ADVICE OR VISIT
HTTPS://WWW.WELLNESSTOGETHER.CA/EN-CA.
ISSUED JOINTLY BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
DEPARTMENTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AND YOUR HEALTH, PLEASE VISIT
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
AT
HTTPS://WWW.HSS.GOV.NT.CA/EN/SERVICES/ENVIRONMENTAL-HEALTH/AIR-QUALITY.
VISIT HTTP://WWW.AIRHEALTH.CA FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR
HEALTH RISK AND YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO POLLUTION LEVELS, AS
WELL AS FOR CURRENT AND FORECAST AQHI VALUES.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.
HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA
END/PASPC
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page