Medford, OR – Jackson
County public health officials and the Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality continue to urge residents to take precautions from wildfire
smoke.
A number of air
quality monitors in the area have showed unhealthy readings over the last
week. Smoke is expected to be a concern
in Rogue Valley as wildfires continue to burn.
During a wildfire, Jackson County public health officials and DEQ
advise residents to take the following precautions:
·
Be aware
of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest
concentrations.
·
Avoid
smoke either by leaving the area or protecting yourself by staying indoors, and
by closing windows and doors
·
Avoid
strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
·
People
exposed to smoky conditions and who suffer from asthma or other respiratory
problems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their
healthcare providers.
It is highly recommended that people stay inside and limit their
outdoor activity. This is going to be
your best defense in protecting your lungs from wildfire smoke.
If you must be outdoors, wearing a special mask called a “particulate
respirator” can also help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke. You will want
to choose a mask called a “particulate respirator” that has the word “NIOSH”
and either “N95” or “P100” printed on it. Dust masks that are not
NIOSH-certified may not offer protection from small particulate matter, even if
properly worn.
Most people will find it difficult to use the respirators and masks
correctly for general use. These masks do require that they are properly
fit-tested and used correctly. It is impossible to get a good seal on
individuals with facial hair. It is important to make sure the respirator fits
properly and that air does not leak around the sides. If it does not fit
properly, the respirator will provide little if any protection, and may offer
the wearer a false sense of protection.
Filtering face-piece respirators and masks can make the work of
breathing more difficult and can lead to increased breathing rates and heart
rates. They can also contribute to heat stress.
Because of this, respirator use by those with heart and respiratory
diseases should only be done under a doctor’s supervision. 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.
Decisions on whether to use respirators or masks as personal protection
for people who must work outside should be made with the employer.
·
For more information on using the
visibility index during wildfires http://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Wildfires-Visibility.aspx
·
For information on smoke and wildfires in
Oregon, visit http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ For information on smoke and wildfires in
California, visit http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/
·
For more information about wildfires and
health threats from wildfire smoke, go to
http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForWildfire.aspx
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Tanya Phillips, Jackson County Public Health, 541-770-7708
Katherine Benenati, DEQ, 541-600-6119
DATE OF RELEASE: Aug. 22, 2017