Calgary’s air quality deemed ‘high risk’ as wildfire smoke hangs over the city

With Calgary and lots of surrounding areas blanketed in a haze of thick wildfire smoke, docs are warning individuals to take precautions.

As of midday Thursday, Calgary’s air high quality well being index was listed as 10-plus, or “very excessive threat.” However circumstances are altering shortly, getting worse or getting higher.

By 1 p.m., the air high quality was rated as 8, or “excessive threat,” and two hours later it was 6, which is on the excessive finish of “average threat.”

“The air high quality in Calgary proper now could be among the worst that we ever get and among the worst that we have ever seen,” mentioned Dr. Kerri Johannson, a lung specialist and scientific affiliate professor within the division of medication on the College of Calgary.

“This is not good for anyone. Having this power, repeated, long-term publicity to excessive concentrations of air pollution like that is dangerous.”

An air high quality advisory issued for Calgary said everybody ought to restrict their time open air.

“Throughout heavy smoke circumstances, everyone seems to be in danger no matter their age or well being. The positive particles in wildfire smoke pose the principle well being threat,” the advisory said.

Usually wholesome individuals might expertise signs, together with itchy eyes, a stuffy nostril and throat irritation.

However, in line with Johannson,  there are lots of Albertans who’re significantly susceptible, together with seniors, infants and younger kids, pregnant individuals, and people with power well being circumstances such bronchial asthma, power obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD), coronary heart illness and pulmonary fibrosis.

These teams are suggested to keep away from strenuous actions open air altogether.

Johannson mentioned bronchial asthma, for instance, can worsen as a consequence of smoke publicity.

“These will be wherever from delicate, type of irritating, worsening signs to life-threatening exacerbations,” she mentioned.

“We all know from prior information that air air pollution and wildfire smoke will increase the chance of bronchial asthma exacerbations, main individuals to return to the emergency division and needing to be hospitalized, needing to vary their drugs.”

The identical factor can occur with different forms of lung illness and even acute coronary heart illness.

“Research have proven that air air pollution publicity will increase the chance of coronary heart assaults,” she mentioned.

“There are these acute inflammatory processes that occur when your lung tissue has been uncovered to all this particulate matter, resulting in systemic irritation within the physique. So these are among the issues that we fear about.” 

In keeping with Johannson, it is vital that folks with power coronary heart and lung circumstances guarantee they’ve available their drugs, comparable to inhalers, and take them as they’re prescribed.

“Take into account this to be a high-risk situation. And simply be actually diligent and vigilant with managing your underlying illness nicely,” she mentioned.

Alberta Well being Providers is urging anybody experiencing signs associated to poor air high quality to name Well being Hyperlink at 811.

“No query — we’re seeing sufferers, at present even, who’re right here with power respiratory illnesses which might be most likely worsened due to the smoke,” mentioned Dr. Eddy Lang, scientific division head for emergency drugs within the Calgary zone. 

In keeping with AHS, emergency departments within the metropolis have seen about 500 visits per day, over the previous week, for bronchial asthma, cough, smoke and smog-related well being points.

Lang calls Calgary’s air high quality score “fairly harmful” and recommends at-risk individuals keep indoors.

“Even in case you’re completely wholesome, we do not know what the long-term well being penalties are.… It could have extra severe long-term results. So it is most likely wiser to keep away from, keep indoors [and] do your train indoors if that is potential.”  

The air high quality advisory urges individuals to maintain doorways and home windows closed whereas inside and use a top quality air filter on air flow techniques or indoor air purifiers to filter out particles within the air.

Individuals who should be open air are urged to put on well-fitting, respirator masks, comparable to an N95.

“Regardless that publicity could also be decreased, there can nonetheless be dangers to well being,” the advisory said.