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State and county officials issue air quality advisory over unhealthy
levels in smoke in Bend
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Bend air quality unhealthy;
Sisters continues to have periods of hazardous air quality
The Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality and Deschutes County Public Health officials are advising
people in and around Bend to take precautions from unhealthy levels of wildfire
smoke.
Bend has experienced air
quality that is unhealthy, and people who are outdoors may experience
headaches, persistent cough, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, irregular
heartbeat and chest pain. Sisters also has unhealthy air quality, with
overnight smoke reaching hazardous levels due to smoke from the nearby Milli
Fire.
Some people are at higher risk
of health effects from wildfire smoke, including children, pregnant women, those
over 65 and people with heart and lung conditions, including asthma. People who
are sensitive to smoke should remain indoors, where air quality is generally
better than outside.
People should also consider
taking 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.
· People suffering from asthma or other respiratory
problems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their
healthcare providers.
Local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on weather factors including wind direction.
Other communities around the
state with unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke include Grants Pass,
Medford, Ashland, Cave Junction and Shady Cove and Brookings. The communities
of Joseph, Madras, Burns and John Day have air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive
groups.
While residents can view
current air quality conditions at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/, Oregon’s monitoring network does not capture air
quality conditions in all communities. For this reason, it’s important for
residents to gauge air quality conditions where they live and take appropriate
actions to protect themselves.
View guidance from the Oregon
Health Authority on children and outdoor activities during periods of poor air
quality: https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/le8815h.pdf