Prepare now for wildfire smoke in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Health advises
Wildfire smoke has so far not made its way to Metro Vancouver this summer, but one of the health authorities that serves the region is urging residents to prepare for smoky skies now.
Air quality can change quickly during the summer months, Fraser Health said in a news release Tuesday. The health authority stretches from Burnaby to Boston Bar, serving several cities in Metro Vancouver, as well as the Fraser Valley.
“As we anticipate our region will be impacted by wildfire smoke, I encourage those at higher risk to plan ahead, including identifying a place to go that has cleaner air,” said Dr. Ingrid Tyler, Fraser Health's executive medical director of population and public health, in the release.
“Wildfire smoke can travel long distances and can cause serious health effects in some people," Tyler added. "Different people respond differently to wildfire smoke and some people are at higher risk of having health effects so it is important to be aware of people in your household who are more sensitive.”
The health authority recommends checking medications, especially rescue medications for breathing, to ensure an adequate supply is available now, before any potential exposure to smoky air.
Fraser Health also recommends keeping windows and doors closed, if possible, using a portable HEPA air cleaner, staying hydrated, reducing strenuous activity and time spent outdoors, and paying attention to air quality reports in the coming days.
Wildfire smoke can be especially harmful to older adults, infants, young children, people who are pregnant and people with chronic conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease, according to the health authority.
Common effects of wildfire smoke can include lung irritation, eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, and mild cough, Fraser Health said, adding that those who experience severe symptoms - such as shortness of breath, severe cough, dizziness, chest discomfort, heart palpitations or wheezing - should seek medical attention immediately.
As of Wednesday, there were 299 fires burning across B.C., and more than 1,100 had been sparked so far this wildfire season.
More information on wildfire smoke and the health risks associated with it can be found on the B.C. Centre for Disease Control website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.