Klamath County Public Health

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2018
Contact: Ramona Quinn, rquinn@co.klamath.or.us  Valeree Lane, vlane@klamathcounty.org, 541.882.8846

 

Know the numbers

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Community members may have noticed that along with the temperature forecast for each day, many news outlets are discussing the air quality index number. This number is most helpful when residents know its meaning. 

Klamath County Public Health wants to help the community “know the numbers”. High temperatures can make the smoky conditions more uncomfortable. Knowing the range of air quality numbers can help people make good choices about outdoor activities.

The six levels of the air quality index are:

·         Good is 0 to 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

·         Moderate is 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people.

·         Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups is 101 to 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this range, people with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk.

·         Unhealthy is 151 to 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.

·         Very Unhealthy is 201 to 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

·         Hazardous is greater than 300. This would trigger a health warning of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Residents are encouraged to visit https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map to learn the current air quality index.

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News Release: Air quality advisory in place for Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties, portions of Lake County

Thursday, August 2, 2018

News Release: Air quality advisory in place for Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties, portions of Lake County

With wildfire smoke continuing to impact a large portion of Southwest Oregon, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is extending an air quality advisory for Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties and portions of Lake County including Lakeview.

Air quality is expected to be a concern at least through the weekend.
At 8 a.m. on Thursday, air quality was unhealthy in Lakeview, Klamath Falls, Shady Cove and Prospect. While conditions were moderate on Thursday morning in a number of other places including Medford and Ashland, periods of unhealthy air are forecast. By later in the morning, those levels had risen to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Remember, local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on weather factors including wind direction.
Residents can view current air quality conditions at DEQ’s Air Quality Index https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map The index is also available on smart phones. Simply search for OregonAir in your app store. The Oregon Smoke Blog also has an air quality map that includes temporary monitors close to specific fires, daily smoke forecasts for specific areas, and other resources. Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog for more information: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
The color-coded Air Quality Index ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate, which is unhealthy for extremely sensitive groups. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions. Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all groups. Maroon is hazardous.
People can take the following precautions:
- Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest concentrations.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
- If you have heart disease, asthma or other respiratory ailments, or are over 65, you have a higher risk of illness from wildfire smoke.
- Small children and pregnant women are also at increased risk. People in any of these groups might consider leaving the area until air quality improves.
- People suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their healthcare providers.
Oregon's monitoring network does not capture air quality conditions in all communities so it is important for residents to gauge air quality conditions where they live and take appropriate actions to protect themselves.
Contact: DEQ: Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene, 541-600-6119, benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us
Jackson County: Tanya Phillips, Jackson County Public Health, 541-770-7708, philliTF@jacksoncounty.org
Josephine County: Michael Weber, Public Health Director, 541-474-5339, mweber@co.josephine.or.us

Air quality issues prompt questions about using face masks

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Klamath County continues to experience severe smoke intrusion from regional wildfires, creating hazardous air quality concerns. Public Health officials are fielding questions about the use of face masks to reduce smoke exposure.

The Oregon Health Authority has prepared the following information.

People who must be outdoors may be considering the use of masks to help protect their lungs from wildfire smoke. Masks can create a false sense of security if not properly selected, fitted and used. There are a few things to know if you are considering the use of a mask:

·         Avoid the use of surgical masks, bandanas and other common masks. These have not been shown to prevent smoke exposure.

·         Those with questions about use of masks in the workplace should contact their employers, or Oregon OSHA at http://osha.oregon.gov/.

·         There are specialized masks that may prevent some smoke exposure.

·         Most people will find it difficult to use these specialized masks, called particulate respirators, in a way that provides protection.

Considerations about particulate respirators include:

·         Selecting the correct respirator size can be difficult.

·         The type of respirator that is able to filter out harmful smoke particles is not available in children’s sizes.

·         The fit of the respirator must be tested to make sure air does not leak around the sides. Leaking air means that exposure to smoke can still occur.

·         Facial hair can cause the mask to seal incorrectly.

·         The masks can be uncomfortable. Even healthy adults may find that the increased effort required for breathing makes it uncomfortable to wear a respirator for more than short periods of time. Breathing may be even more difficult for those with heart and lung conditions.

·         Care must be taken to select a “particulate respirator” that is marked with the word “NIOSH” and either “N95” or “P100” printed on it.

Residents are encouraged to visit https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map to learn the current air quality index. Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern. The six levels of health concern and what they mean are:

·         Good is 0 to 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

·         Moderate is 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.

·         Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups is 101 to 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.

·         Unhealthy is 151 to 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.

·         Very Unhealthy is 201 to 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

·         Hazardous is greater than 300. This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Weather conditions and smoke levels can vary dramatically during wildfires. Conditions can change as frequently as hourly. In the last two days, Klamath County has ranged between unhealthy and very unhealthy.

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Wildfires Create Hazardous Air Quality Concern in Basin

 

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Smoke intrusion from regional wildfires has created hazardous air quality concerns in Klamath County. Public Health encourages Klamath County residents to take precautions to avoid health problems during hot, smoky conditions.

Winds, as forecasted by the Weather Service, may increase the already hazardous conditions in the Klamath Basin.

Weather conditions and smoke levels can vary dramatically during wildfires. Conditions can change as frequently as on an hourly basis. Smoke may also impact one portion of a community but not another.

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 urges all residents, especially those at increased risk, to take the following precautions:

 

·         Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors.

 

·         Keep indoor locations tightly closed. If you have air conditioner, set it to re-circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air.

 

·         Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution such as burning cigarettes, gas, propane and wood burning stoves and furnaces, and activities such as cooking, burning candles and vacuuming

 

·         Reduce the amount of time engaged in vigorous outdoor physical activity. This can be an important and effective strategy to lower the dose of inhaled air pollutants and minimize health risks during a smoke event.

 

·         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.

 

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

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:

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForWildfire.aspx

 

To learn how to use visibility to measure risk of health effects:

http://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Wildfires-Visibility.aspx

 

To learn how to use visibility to measure risk of health effects, visit

http://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Wildfires-Visibility.aspx.

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Air quality issues continue through the weekend

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Smoke intrusion from regional wildfires continues to create hazardous air quality concerns in Klamath County. County residents should take precautions to avoid health problems.

 

The Department of Environmental Quality reported air quality as very unhealthy and hazardous earlier in the week.

 

Residents can visit https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map to learn the current air quality index. Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern. The six levels of health concern and what they mean are:

·         Good is 0 to 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

·         Moderate is 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.

·         Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups is 101 to 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.

·         Unhealthy is 151 to 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.

·         Very Unhealthy is 201 to 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

·         Hazardous is greater than 300. This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Air quality and weather conditions can vary dramatically during wildfires. Conditions can change hourly.

 

The combination of wildfire smoke and high temperatures in Klamath County may increase the risk of illness. Public Health officials encourage all residents, especially those at increased risk, to take the following precautions:

·         Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors.

·         Keep indoor locations tightly closed. If you have air conditioner, set it to re‐circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air.

·         Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution such as burning cigarettes, gas, propane and 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 respiratory issues should follow their health care provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.

The Klamath Air Quality Blog (www.klamathairquality.blogspot.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/klamathbasinairquality) will continue to be updated as smoke conditions change.

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Dangerous Heat and Possible Thunderstorms Later this Week

Impacts

● Near record high temperatures Thursday through this weekend could cause heat illnesses if overexerting. Stay out of the sun,

especially in the afternoon, and stay hydrated.

● Be careful if recreating in the rivers due to cold water temperatures especially just downstream of dams.

Forecast Confidence

● High confidence for near-record heat.

● Low confidence for thunderstorm coverage and locations.

Timing and Strength

● Heat

●

○ West of the Cascades, many of the inland valleys will see high temperatures between 101 and 106 degrees

Thursday through this weekend. Low temperatures may only fall into the middle to upper 60s Friday and Saturday

mornings. It will be a little cooler in the Umpqua Valley with highs peaking in the middle to upper 90s.

○ East of the Cascades, high temperatures in the valleys will be in the 90s.

● Cold Water

○ The colder river temperatures are only in the 50s and lower 60s.

● Thunderstorms

○ A slight chance of thunderstorms Friday through this weekend for mainly northern California and east of the

Cascades.

Weather Summary

High temperatures will range between 10 and 15 degrees above normal Thursday through this weekend. Excessive heat watches will

likely be issued followed by heat warnings and advisories. Record highs for Medford later this week are around 107 degrees, and for

Klamath Falls around 100 degrees. We do not expect these records to be reached but we could see temperatures peak to within a few

degrees of record highs across southern Oregon and northern California. Monsoonal moisture from the southwest U.S. may move toward

our region later in the week with thunderstorms possible beginning Friday afternoon.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2018
Contact: Courtney Vanbragt, cvanbragt@klamathcounty.org, or Valeree Lane, vlane@klamathcounty.org, 541.882.8846

 

Smoke intrusion from California wildfire influences Klamath’s air quality

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Smoke intrusion from California’s County Fire, which is east of Lake Berryessa in Napa and Yolo counties, is expected to create air quality concerns in Klamath County. The air quality outlook for 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday July 6 is expected to be in the range of moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups.  

The Weather Service is forecasting south to southeast winds during the day, which will facilitate the smoke reaching the Klamath Basin. Forecast models indicate that the smoke may remain in the area into midafternoon. Sensitive groups, such as people with asthma, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion, and consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling.  Everyone should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion, and take more breaks during all outdoor activities.  

Weather conditions and smoke levels can vary dramatically during wildfires, not only from one day to the next but on an hourly basis. Smoke may also impact one portion of a community but not another.

To learn how to use visibility to measure risk of health effects, visit

http://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Wildfires-Visibility.aspx.

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