Air Quality Advisory
Placer County, CA June, 23, 2008 – Smoke continues to impact the Placer County area due to fires burning throughout Northern California and is expected to continue through Tuesday, June 24th.
Smoky conditions can vary considerably in Placer County, because of the terrain and the weather. A specific location therefore may be smoky at one point and clear at another. Depending on where residents are, they may or may not be impacted, and situations can change very quickly.
Placer County Health Officer Dr. Richard Burton and Air Pollution Control Officer Tom Christofk remind residents to take common-sense precautions if the air seems very smoky.
“If you can see or smell smoke, you should limit outdoor physical activities, and strongly consider canceling outdoor sporting events and other group activities that involve physical exertion,” said Dr. Burton. Particularly affected are children and the elderly.
Dr. Burton and Christofk urge residents to keep in mind the following recommendations when they are in smoky conditions:
- Healthy people should delay strenuous exercise, particularly when they can smell smoke.
- Children and elderly people should consider avoiding outdoor activities, particularly prolonged outdoor exertion.
- People with specific illnesses, particularly respiratory problems, should remain indoors.
- Using paper mask filters, which are not capable of filtering extra-fine smoke particles, and which restrict airflow, is not recommended.
- Stay inside with doors and windows shut. Use the recycle or recirculate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car. Avoid cooking and vacuuming, which can increase pollutants indoors.
- Asthmatics should follow their asthma-management plans.
- Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue. This is important for not only people with chronic lung or heart disease, but also for individuals who have not been previously diagnosed with such illnesses. Smoke can “unmask” or produce symptom of such diseases.
- Keep airways moist by drinking lots of water. Breathing through a warm, wet washcloth can also help relieve dryness.
For general air quality information go to www.sparetheair.com.
For air quality-related questions, contact: Ann Hobbs, 530-745-2327or health-related questions, call 530-889-7141.