226
WOCN21 CWHX 071849
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR NOVA SCOTIA
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AT 3:49 P.M. ADT WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2023.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
SHELBURNE COUNTY.
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==DISCUSSION==
WILDFIRE SMOKE MAY REDUCE LOCAL AIR QUALITY.
LOCATIONS: SHELBURNE COUNTY.
SHORT RANGE WIND FORECAST: SOUTHWEST 20 GUSTING TO 40 KM/H
DIMINISHING TO LIGHT WINDS THIS EVENING.
REMARKS: SMOKE FROM A VERY LARGE FOREST FIRE NEAR BARRINGTON LAKE
MAY CONTINUE TO REDUCE VISIBILITY AND AIR QUALITY IN THE AREA
DIRECTLY DOWNWIND OF THE FIRE.
AIR QUALITY WILL REMAIN DIMINISHED IN COMMUNITIES NEAR THE FIRES. IF
YOU ARE UNABLE TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE EFFECTS FROM THE SMOKE, AND
PROVIDED IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER TEMPORARILY
RELOCATING TO AN ALTERNATE LOCATION WITH IMPROVED AIR QUALITY.
WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN BE HARMFUL TO EVERYONE'S HEALTH EVEN AT LOW
CONCENTRATIONS. CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH AND
REDUCE EXPOSURE TO 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.
STOP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND CONTACT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF YOU
OR SOMEONE IN YOUR CARE EXPERIENCES SHORTNESS OF BREATH, WHEEZING
(INCLUDING ASTHMA ATTACKS), SEVERE COUGH, DIZZINESS OR CHEST PAINS.
STAY INSIDE IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL AND EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS.
KEEP YOUR INDOOR AIR CLEAN. KEEP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS CLOSED IF
THE TEMPERATURE IN YOUR HOME IS COMFORTABLE. USE AN AIR PURIFIER
WITH A HIGH EFFICIENCY PARTICULATE AIR (HEPA) FILTER IN A ROOM WHERE
YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME. AVOID AIR PURIFIERS THAT PRODUCE OZONE.
CHECK THE FILTER AND CHANGE IT IF REQUIRED. FOR MORE INFORMATION
VISIT
HTTPS://WWW.CANADA.CA/EN/HEALTH-CANADA/SERVICES/PUBLICATIONS/HEALTHY-LIVING/USING-PORTABLE-AIR-CLEANER-WILDFIRE-SMOKE.HTML.
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE SMOKE BY TEMPORARILY RELOCATING OR FINDING A
LOCATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY WITH CLEAN, COOL AIR SUCH AS A LIBRARY,
SHOPPING MALL OR COMMUNITY CENTRE. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HEALTH OR
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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.
PAY ATTENTION TO INFORMATION AND DIRECTION FROM YOUR LOCAL
AUTHORITIES AND EVACUATE IF TOLD TO DO SO.
REVIEW YOUR WILDFIRE SMOKE PLAN AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH
MEDICAL SUPPLIES IF THE SMOKE CONTINUES TO IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY.
CONTACT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF YOUR CONDITION IS NOT
IMPROVING.
BE AWARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. IT IS NORMAL TO FEEL ANXIOUS OR
ISOLATED DURING A SMOKE EVENT. 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.
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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