KLAMATH COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
Press Release
Date: August 01, 2014
Media Contact: Ramona
Quinn/Jim Carey Phone: (541)-882-8846
High Temperatures and Smoky
Air Could Cause Health Problems
Klamath Falls, Or. – Public
Health officials urge Klamath County residents to take precautions to avoid health
problems during hot, smoky conditions.
The combination of high
temperatures and wildfire smoke in Klamath County may increase the risk of
illness, especially for people with asthma, respiratory or heart conditions,
older adults, and young children. Public health officials urge all residents,
especially children, older adults and people with lung or heart disease to take
the following precautions to avoid health problems:
·
Reduce the amount
of time spent outdoors. This can usually provide some protection, especially in
a tightly closed, air-conditioned house in which the air conditioner can be set
to re-circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air.
·
Reduce the amount
of time engaged in vigorous outdoor physical activity. This can be an important
and effective strategy to lower the amount of inhaled air pollutants and
minimize health risks during a smoke event.
·
Reduce other
sources of indoor air pollution such as burning cigarettes, gas, propane, wood
burning stoves and furnaces, and activities such as cooking, burning candles
and vacuuming.
·
Drink plenty of
water or other non-alcohol or decaffeinated fluids to keep cool.
·
Individuals with
lung disease or respiratory illnesses such as asthma should follow their health
care provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.
Smoke from wildfires is a
mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant
materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and
worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.
Smoke levels can rise and fall depending on weather factors
including wind direction. Klamath County Public Health will continue to release
information on our blog (www.klamathairquality.blogspot.com)
and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/klamathbasinairquality)
as smoke conditions change. Updates will be made daily.
For more
information about air quality; how to protect your health during the forest
fire season and how to protect your health when temperatures soar, visit the
following website:
To learn
how to use visibility to measure risk of health effects, visit the following
website:
For other questions or concerns
contact Klamath County Public Health’s Environmental Health department at
541-883-1122.
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