770
WOCN21 CWQT 110105
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR NOVA SCOTIA
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AT 10:05 P.M. ADT WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST 2016.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
LUNENBURG COUNTY
QUEENS COUNTY
ANNAPOLIS COUNTY
KINGS COUNTY
HANTS COUNTY.
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==DISCUSSION==
SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH A FOREST FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF SEVEN MILE
LAKE IN WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF
ANNAPOLIS, QUEENS, LUNENBURG, KINGS AND HANTS COUNTIES TONIGHT.
REDUCED AIR QUALITY CAN BE EXPECTED DOWNWIND AND IN THE VICINITY OF
THE SMOKE PLUME. HIGHER POLLUTION LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST
THROUGH THURSDAY. IN ADDITION, HUMIDEX VALUES OF 35 TO 39 ARE
EXPECTED OVER INLAND AREAS OF MAINLAND NOVA SCOTIA ON THURSDAY, AND
THIS MAY ALSO CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.
INDIVIDUALS MAY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS INCREASED COUGHING,
THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHES OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH. CHILDREN,
SENIORS, AND THOSE WITH CARDIOVASCULAR OR LUNG DISEASE, SUCH AS
ASTHMA, ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK. IN GENERAL, WEARING A MASK IS NOT
THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH DURING A SMOKE EVENT. IN FACT,
MASKS MAY LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, WHICH MAY ENCOURAGE
INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND TIME SPENT OUTDOORS, MEANING
INCREASED EXPOSURE TO SMOKE. THEY CAN ALSO MAKE BREATHING MORE
DIFFICULT. PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASES, SUCH AS ASTHMA AND COPD, CAN
BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO AIR POLLUTION. THEY WILL GENERALLY
EXPERIENCE MORE SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS AT LOWER LEVELS. POLLUTION
CAN AGGRAVATE THEIR DISEASES, LEADING TO INCREASED MEDICATION USE,
DOCTOR AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND HOSPITAL VISITS. STAY INSIDE
IF YOU HAVE BREATHING DIFFICULTIES. FIND AN INDOOR PLACE THAT'S COOL
AND VENTILATED. USING AN AIR CONDITIONER THAT COOLS AND FILTERS AIR
MAY HELP. IF YOU OPEN THE WINDOWS YOU MAY LET IN MORE POLLUTED AIR.
IF YOUR HOME ISN'T AIR-CONDITIONED, CONSIDER GOING TO A PUBLIC PLACE
(LIBRARY, SHOPPING MALL, RECREATION CENTRE) THAT IS AIR-CONDITIONED.
VISIT 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/ASPC
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