661   
WOCN21 CWUL 161907  
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT  
FOR QUEBEC  
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA  
AT 3:07 P.M. EDT FRIDAY 16 AUGUST 2024.  
---------------------------------------------------------------------  
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:  
      WASKAGANISH  
      JAMES BAY AND LA GRANDE RIVER.  
  
---------------------------------------------------------------------  
==DISCUSSION==  
  
SMOKE FROM FOREST FIRES ORIGINATING IN WESTERN CANADA IS RESULTING   
IN DETERIORATING AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. CONDITIONS   
WILL IMPROVE THIS EVENING.  
  
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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