668  
WOCN21 CWUL 161906  
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT  
FOR QUEBEC  
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA  
AT 3:06 P.M. EDT FRIDAY 16 AUGUST 2024.  
---------------------------------------------------------------------  
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:  
LG QUATRE - LAFORGE AND FONTANGES  
SCHEFFERVILLE  
FERMONT  
MANICOUAGAN RIVER  
SAGUENAY  
LAC-SAINT-JEAN  
CHIBOUGAMAU  
KUUJJUARAPIK  
SANIKILUAQ  
UMIUJAQ  
INUKJUAK  
AUPALUK  
TASIUJAQ  
KUUJJUAQ  
KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ.  
 
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT ENDED FOR:  
PUVIRNITUQ  
AKULIVIK.  
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------  
==DISCUSSION==  
 
SMOKE FROM FOREST FIRES IN WESTERN CANADA IS CAUSING OR MAY CAUSE A  
DETERIORATION IN AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. THE SITUATION  
WILL GRADUALLY IMPROVE ON SATURDAY.  
 
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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