Interior Health air quality warning guidance

Nicola Valley area residents, as well as those throughout the Interior, are reminded to stay safe from the impacts of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke in the region.

The Province of British Columbia has issued air quality warnings for multiple areas across Interior Health. 

The recent spate of wildfires over the last few weeks, along with hot, dry conditions, has officials warning those in affected regions to use caution and protect their health from wildfire smoke.

Those with chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, as well as pregnant women, infants, and young children, are most affected by wildfire smoke.  

Learn more about health in smoky conditions with Deputy Chief, Medical Health Officer, Dr. Sue Pollock.  

During smoky conditions: 

• Stay indoors: Reduce time spent outside to protect your health. 
• Consider wearing a well-fitted respirator if you cannot access cleaner air: Use a well fitted respirator (e.g., N95, KN95) to reduce exposure to particulate matter in smoke. 
• Activate medical management plans: Ensure your plan to self-manage any chronic diseases (e.g., respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) is in place and up-to-date, and that adequate rescue medications are available. 
• Use a home clean air shelter: Spend time in a room in your home with a portable air cleaner with HEPA filtration to reduce smoke exposure. If you do not have access to this at home, you can find a location in your local community to take shelter in such as your community recreation centre or public library during periods of poor air quality.  

Wildfire smoke and your mental health 

Smoky skies can affect us physically and also make us feel anxious and stressed. There are actions we can take to help improve and manage our mental wellness through these stressful times. 

• Manage stress: Use stress-relief techniques such as meditation or focusing on a creative outlet (e.g., journaling and art). 
• Tap into social networks: Having conversations and spending time with people closest to us is especially important during emergencies and disasters. 
• Take care: Eat well, exercise indoors, drink lots of water and get enough sleep. 
• Help others: Assisting others can help us regain a sense of purpose and community as we confront challenges together. The Emergency Support Services Program welcomes and relies on volunteers to coordinate support services for people forced from their homes in an emergency. 

Resources 

• Visit the BCCDC wildfire smoke webpage to learn more about the health effects of wildfire smoke, how to prepare for wildfire season and more. 
• For guidance on outdoor physical activity in smoky conditions, refer to the Air Quality Health Index or the University of Northern British Columbia’s local monitoring resource.   
• For other steps to create cleaner air space at home, check out Health Canada’s online resource Guidance for Cleaner Air Spaces during Wildfire Smoke Events. 
• To learn about the steps that you can take to prepare for a wildfire and manage wildfire-related issues before, during or after a wildfire please visit our wildfires webpage. 
• Call 8-1-1 or your primary care provider if you’re experiencing more severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, or 9-1-1 if it’s a health emergency.