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
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Storage shed or shipping container? B.C. Supreme Court settles long-running bylaw dispute
A long-running dispute over whether a structure on a Surrey property violates a city bylaw that prohibits shipping containers on residential lots has been settled by the B.C. Supreme Court