Air Quality & Your Health Wednesday April 29th

As of Monday April 20, 2015, we have stopped issuing the regular Air Quality and Woodstove use Advisory.  We will continue to issue advisories for our schools, agricultural community and residents with respiratory problems when necessary. The Air Quality Advisory will continue through the summer on the following web page www.klamathair.org and by phone message at 541-882-BURN (2876)

The use of non-certified woodstoves and fireplaces as well as certified wood stoves and pellet stoves are allowed countywide until October 15, 2015. Outdoor burning is prohibited inside the Air Quality Zone.

Outdoor or open burning is allowed outside the Air Quality Zone provided the requirements of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Forestry and the local fire district are met.

Air Quality & Your Health

You’re doing a lot of things to keep your heart healthy. You eat right. You exercise. You don’t smoke. Are you paying attention to air quality? If not, today’s the day to start.

Air pollution – especially particle pollution -- is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Exposure to fine particles has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and early death in people with heart disease.

What can you do? Do everything you’re supposed to for good heart health. And pay attention to the Air Quality Index (AQI) – especially if have heart disease, or if you’re at greater risk of a heart attack (including men over 45 and women over 55).

When the AQI forecast or advisory reaches Red (unhealthy for sensitive groups) make some adjustments to your exercise plans. Walking instead of running, or weeding your garden instead of moving a lot of heavy mulch, are just a couple of examples of things you can do to reduce the amount of pollution you breathe in when you exercise. And always exercise away from busy roads if you can: particle levels generally are higher in those areas.

Don’t wait for symptoms to tell you if particles are affecting you: your first symptom could be a heart attack.

Learn more about protecting your health with the Air Quality Index.

Protect your heart from air pollution with EPA’s Healthy Hearts program.

The Million Hearts® federal program brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector partners to fight heart disease and stroke