769
WOCN21 CWUL 161555
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR QUEBEC
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA
AT 11:55 A.M. EDT FRIDAY 16 AUGUST 2024.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
WASKAGANISH
JAMES BAY AND LA GRANDE RIVER.
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT ENDED FOR:
ABITIBI
MATAGAMI.
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==DISCUSSION==
SMOKE FROM FOREST FIRES ORIGINATING IN WESTERN CANADA IS RESULTING
IN DETERIORATING AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. CONDITIONS
WILL IMPROVE TODAY.
THE FINE PARTICLES IN WILDFIRE SMOKE POSE THE MAIN HEALTH RISK. AS
SMOKE LEVELS INCREASE, HEALTH RISKS INCREASE.
PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY WILDFIRE SMOKE INCLUDE SENIORS,
PREGNANT WOMEN AND PREGNANT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO SMOKE, INFANTS AND
YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN
STRENUOUS OUTDOOR EXERCISE AND PEOPLE WITH AN EXISTING ILLNESS OR
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION. THOSE WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED
SHOULD REDUCE OR RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS OR SEEK
MEDICAL ATTENTION IF EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND IF YOU EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS, CONSIDER
REDUCING OR STOPPING STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SYMPTOMS CAN
INCLUDE MILDER AND MORE COMMON SYMPTOMS SUCH AS EYE, NOSE AND THROAT
IRRITATION, AS WELL AS SERIOUS BUT LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS SUCH AS
CHEST PAINS OR SEVERE COUGH. IF YOU THINK YOU ARE HAVING A MEDICAL
EMERGENCY, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
LIMIT TIME OUTDOORS. WHEN INDOORS, KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THERE IS AN EXTREME HEAT EVENT OCCURRING WITH
POOR AIR QUALITY, PRIORITIZE KEEPING COOL. ALWAYS SEEK OUT AND
FOLLOW HEALTH GUIDANCE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
PROTECT YOUR INDOOR AIR FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE. ACTIONS CAN INCLUDE
USING A CLEAN, GOOD QUALITY AIR FILTER IN YOUR VENTILATION SYSTEM
AND/OR A CERTIFIED PORTABLE AIR PURIFIER THAT CAN FILTER FINE
PARTICLES.
WHEN SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS, A WELL-CONSTRUCTED, WELL-FITTING AND
PROPERLY WORN RESPIRATOR TYPE MASK (SUCH AS A NIOSH-CERTIFIED N95 OR
EQUIVALENT RESPIRATOR) CAN REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE FINE
PARTICLES IN THE SMOKE. EVEN THOUGH EXPOSURE MAY BE REDUCED, THERE
CAN STILL BE RISKS TO HEALTH.
CHECK IN ON OTHERS WHO ARE IN YOUR CARE OR LIVE NEARBY WHO MAY BE
MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY WILDFIRE SMOKE.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.CANADA.CA/WILDFIRE-SMOKE.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.
HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA
END/QSPC
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