Information bulletin

Take steps to minimize exposure to smoky air this weekend

Lower Mainland, B.C. — As well as the heat warning issued this week by Environment Canada, Metro Vancouver is monitoring conditions associated with wildfire smoke from fires burning in the interior of B.C. and Washington. Wildfire smoke models are forecasting that smoke from these fires may reach parts of Metro Vancouver on Saturday and continuing in to Sunday. A change in the weather on Monday is forecast to bring onshore winds to help clear the smoke. Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds and temperatures change, and as wildfire behaviour changes. Medical Health Officers from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) urge the public to plan in advance to minimize their exposure to smoky air.

Although wildfire smoke is different from air pollution caused by traffic or industry, it is also harmful to human health, especially in older adults, infants, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease.  

Help keep yourself and your loved ones safe by taking the following steps:

  • Reduce time spent outdoors and reduce strenuous activities, because breathing harder means inhaling more smoky air.

  • While closing windows and doors can help to keep out smoky air, opening doors and windows can be helpful to cool indoor spaces when it is cooler outside than inside (typically overnight). For most people heat stress is a bigger health risk than smoky air. During hot and smoky conditions, it is recommended to prioritize cooling indoor spaces when possible.

  • Confirm you have enough of your medications, especially rescue medications for breathing.

  • Create a cleaner air room in your home using a portable HEPA air cleaner if possible.

  • Stay hydrated.

  • Pay attention to air quality reports, especially the air quality health index.

  • Spend time in a home or community space that has air conditioning, which will have cleaner air. Look for designated cleaner air spaces in your community with enhanced air filtration, however, if you can't find one, most buildings with air  -- including the cooling centres established for this weekend's expected heat wave (www.vch.ca/heat) will have HVAC systems that help people from experiencing irritating symptoms. 

People with pre-existing medical conditions should take extra precautions during this time, including monitoring for symptoms and keeping rescue medications with them when outdoors.  

Common symptoms can include discomfort when breathing, eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, and mild cough. If you experience these symptoms, seek spaces with clean air and reduce physical activity. If you experience more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, severe cough, dizziness, chest discomfort, heart palpitations, or wheezing, seek medical attention.  

Learn more about wildfire smoke, its impact on health, and how to prepare here: http://www.bccdc.ca/about/news-stories/stories/2021/get-ready-for-wildfire-smoke. Further tips can be found at www.vch.ca/wildfiresmoke or  bccdc.ca/wildfiresmoke

Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for the delivery of $4.1 billion in community, hospital and long-term care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. VCH also provides specialized care and services for people throughout B.C., and is the province's hub of health-care education and research.

 

Contact

Deana Lancaster
Communications Leader, Public Health

Vancouver Coastal Health

 

 

 

Related articles

Physicians' and Nurse Practitioners' update

AQ-CARE: Air Quality—Community Action, Resilience and Empowerment

Extreme cold

Management of gastroenteritis infections in shelters, drop-ins, and social housing facilities

Diseases to report

Facts about antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Community vaccine provider resources

Used needles and condoms

How infections are spread

Cleaning and sanitizing

Cover your cough and sneeze

Wildfire smoke

Extreme heat

What vaccines do I need if I'm 50 or older?

Public Health resources for schools and childcare facilities

Vision services for children

Kindergarten immunization

Communicable disease control

Decriminalization of controlled substances for personal use

Community Health & Climate Change Maps

Donate to Vancouver Coastal Health's Population Health Fund

Immunization for infants and toddlers

Immunization for adults

Outbreaks & pandemics

Child Health Passport

Radon

Air quality monitoring projects

Outdoor air quality

Indoor air quality

Storms and flooding

VCH Public Health urges public to make influenza vaccine a priority ahead of holiday season

VCH clinics to offer new combination bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for fall booster campaign

VCH Heat Warning guidance for Howe Sound and Sunshine Coast

VCH Heat Warning guidance for Howe Sound and Central Coast regions

Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health Heat Warning guidance

Vancouver Coastal Health welcomes back 283 hospital food-service workers

Limited, temporary disruption to Squamish General Hospital maternity services in early July

Lower Mainland health authorities urge residents to take precautions during the Heat Warning

Preparing for summer weather

Vancouver Coastal Health public health issues e-scooter safety guidance

Increase in norovirus cases associated with consumption of raw oysters

After delivering more than 600,000 doses, vaccination clinic at the Vancouver Convention Centre winds down operations

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Fraserview Retirement Community

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreaks at three facilities

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Detwiller Pavillion (UBC Hospital)

Stem cell-based treatment produces insulin in patients with Type 1 diabetes

Vancouver Coastal Health to hold Open Board Forum on November 25

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Amica Edgemont Village

VCH issues hepatitis A public exposure notification for Whistler business Splitz Grill

B.C. launches first accredited PPE testing lab in Western Canada

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Amica Lions Gate

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Cooper Place

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at OPAL

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Louis Brier Home and Hospital

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Arbutus Care Centre

Public Health officials urge Lower Mainland residents to remain vigilant in taking precautions during high temperatures

Vancouver Coastal Health’s canine scent detection team now detecting COVID-19

Extreme Heat Alert

Public Health officials urge Lower Mainland residents to take precautions during anticipated high temperatures

Vancouver Coastal Health transitioning COVID-19 clinic operations

Public Health officials provide guidance ahead of high temperatures this weekend

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak over at Hollyburn House

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak over at Minoru Residence in Richmond

Vancouver Coastal Health update on extreme heat conditions

Extreme Heat Alert

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Hollyburn House

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Minoru Residence in Richmond

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak over at Richmond Hospital and Richmond Lions Manor-Bridgeport long-term

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak over at Lions Gate Hospital; declares outbreak at Richmond Lions Manor-Bridgeport Long-term care home

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Richmond Hospital

High-transmission neighbourhood residents 30 years of age and older eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Lions Gate Hospital

Kensington neighbourhood residents 40 years of age and older eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination

Squamish residents 40 years of age and older eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 update for Whistler

COVID-19 update for Whistler

Whistler vaccination program expands to all eligible adults 18 years of age and older living or working in Whistler

Adult residents living and working in Whistler now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination

The next age group within Vancouver Coastal Health can now register for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Vancouver Coastal Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre

The next age group within Vancouver Coastal Health can now book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

COVID-19 update for Whistler

Vancouver Coastal Health invites the next age group to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Vancouver Coastal Health invites next age group of seniors to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Vancouver Coastal Health’s statement on the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic

Vancouver Coastal Health now invites seniors age 85 and older to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

VCH opens COVID-19 vaccination clinics to eligible seniors and Indigenous people on March 15

Hot weather starting tomorrow calls for caution

Supporting healthy eating at school

Child care

Information about opioids

HIV/AIDS surveillance

Benzodiazepines (Benzos)

Immunization coverage

Immunization after care for children

Notifications of infectious diseases

Immunization records

Overdose surveillance

Immunization for school-aged children

Community health profiles

Community wellness reports

Active travel to school

Information for current grant holders