HELENA – The Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Today’s Air website has several resources available that people can use to minimize or avoid the harmful effects of smoke pollution during wildfire season. The also suggest those more susceptible to lung problems, such as young children and older individuals, as well as asthmatics or people suffering from COPD or emphysema to stay in doors and not perform any strenuous activity outside.
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“Some of the symptoms can be throat irritation, throat burning, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness if people have underlying heart disease”, said Doctor Denitza Blagev, who is a pulmonologist.
Pocatello was experiencing a “moderate” air quality rating early in the week.
Warning: particulate respirators will not provide complete protection in very smoky conditions and may even interfere with proper breathing.
It’s the second red air alert in as many days.
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center hasn’t seen an increase in emergency room visits, which probably means people needing care have been going to primary care doctors or urgent care, said spokeswoman Jennifer Semenza.
If you smell smoke, or see smoke around you, consider restricting your outside activities.
Missoula Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield said 2015 has been a bad year. Pollutants creating a cloud of unhealthy air from the wildfires burning in Oregon, Washington and California.
“It’s not looking good from the reports we’re getting now”, Rothe said Friday afternoon.
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Washoe County schools were forced to cancel all athletic practices or move indoors.
