294
WOCN22 CYQX 170821
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR LABRADOR
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
AT 5:21 A.M. ADT SATURDAY 17 AUGUST 2024.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
LABRADOR CITY AND WABUSH
CHURCHILL FALLS AND VICINITY
CHURCHILL VALLEY
UPPER LAKE MELVILLE
EAGLE RIVER.
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==DISCUSSION==
SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES IS EXPECTED TO INTERMITTENTLY REDUCE AIR
QUALITY UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON.
LOCATIONS: CENTRAL AND WESTERN LABRADOR.
REMARKS: A SHIFT IN THE WIND DIRECTION FROM SOUTHWESTERLY TO WEST OR
NORTHWESTERLY LATER TODAY WILL IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.
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.
LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.CANADA.CA/WILDFIRE-SMOKE.
VISIT HTTP://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/NLWO
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