Air quality warning prompts Chatham-Kent closures, relief centres opening doors

The ongoing air quality warning resulted in the interruption of some services Thursday, as well as the opening of sites for people to seek relief. Wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario moved into the area recently, with residents urged to use caution, particularly vulnerable populations including seniors, children and those with health concerns. All municipal waste [...]

Article content The ongoing air quality warning resulted in the interruption of some services Thursday, as well as the opening of sites for people to seek relief. Wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario moved into the area recently, with residents urged to use caution, particularly vulnerable populations including seniors, children and those with health concerns. Recommended Videos All municipal waste depots were closed Thursday, including Wallaceburg and Harwich, as well as Chatham’s leaf and yard depot.

All outdoor pools in Chatham-Kent were closed for the day. Blenheim and Wallaceburg indoor pools remained open on their regular schedules. While splash pads stayed open, Chatham-Kent Public Health recommends that families exercise care, monitor air quality conditions, and limit outdoor exposure where possible.

Municipally operated day camps, including CK Recreation and CK Arts and Culture day camps, adjusted their programming to remain indoors throughout the day. The EarlyON outdoor event in Ridgetown was cancelled, however, all indoor EarlyON programming continued as scheduled. In a social media video, Chatham Coun.

Alysson Storey encouraged the public to stay safe. “I was outside, coming home from a meeting when the smoke rolled in, and I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Extremely strong and irritating, ... it’s problematic today, for sure.

“Certainly it’s a challenging time. Really feeling for the communities in northwestern Ontario, where these fires are raging mostly out of control.” Hope Haven opened its doors Thursday to provide a place for people to go, and will do so until Saturday at 7 a.m. Walpole Island First Nation was also taking precautions.

The arena was open as a 24/7 cooling and clean air station, along with the governance building during business hours. Snacks and food were made available at both locations, with N95 masks on hand at the governance building for pickup. Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations.

“Additionally, people with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke,” the health unit said in a media release. In its warning, Environment Canada had recommended rescheduling or cancelling outdoor sports, activities and events. People may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough.

More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance. Those more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke, should avoid strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.

People should take the following actions to reduce exposure: - Monitor your health. Stop or reduce activity levels and contact a health-care provider if you or someone in your care experiences shortness of breath, wheezing (including asthma attacks), severe cough, dizziness or chest pains. Stay inside if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms.

- Keep your indoor air clean. Keep your doors and windows closed if the temperature in your home is comfortable. Use an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in a room where you spend a lot of time.

Avoid air purifiers that produce ozone. Check the filter and change it if required. - Take a break from the smoke.

Temporarily relocate or find a location in your community with clean, cool air such as a public library, shopping mall or community centre. - If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitted respirator-type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can help reduce exposure to the fine particles in smoke that pose the greatest risk to health. Note that respirators do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke.

It is important to listen to your body and reduce or stop activities if you are experiencing symptoms. - Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more susceptible to smoke. - Be aware of your mental health.

It is normal to feel anxious or isolated during a smoke event. If you experience feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression, contact your mental health-care provider for advice. Residents are encouraged to stay informed by following the CK Notices and Closures Facebook page (@CKNotices) for the latest information on municipal service impacts and facility closures.

For more information on air quality, visit www.airhealth.ca