October 17, 2008
Air Quality Advisory:
Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive individuals in the San Fernando
Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, and the San Gabriel Mountains.
LOS ANGELES - Due to the fires, air quality is unhealthy for sensitive
individuals in the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, and
the San Gabriel Mountains, according to the South Coast Air Quality
Management District (AQMD).
"Schools in the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, and the
San Gabriel Mountain area may resume outdoor physical activities for
most students, but we urge those sensitive individuals with asthma or
other respiratory diseases to not participate until conditions further
improve," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health
and County Health Officer. "We continue to urge all individuals to be
cautious and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in all areas of
visible smoke or where there is an odor of smoke."
Non-school related sports organizations, such as Little Leagues or AYSO,
for children and adults may resume activity, but are advised to cancel
outdoor practices in areas where there is visible smoke, soot, or ash,
or where there is an odor of smoke. This also applies to other
recreational outdoor activity, such as hikes or picnics, in these areas.
Sensitive individuals, such as those with heart disease, asthma or other
respiratory disease, should continue to follow these recommendations and
stay indoors as much as possible even in areas where smoke, soot, or ash
cannot be seen or there is no odor of smoke.
"It is difficult to tell where ash or soot from a wildfire will go, or
how winds will affect the level of dust particles in the air, so we ask
all individuals to be aware of their immediate environment and how it
might affect their health," said Dr. Fielding.
People can participate in indoor sports or other strenuous activity in
areas with visible smoke, soot, or ash, provided the indoor location has
air conditioning that does not draw air from the
outside and it has closed windows and doors to protect the cleanliness
of indoor air. If not, it is recommended that all individuals follow
these guidelines as if they were outside.
The following recommendations will help you protect yourself and your
family from harmful effects of bad air quality:
* If you see or smell smoke, or see a lot of particles and ash in
the air, avoid unnecessary
-MORE-
outdoor activity to limit your exposure to harmful air. This is
especially important for those with heart or lung disease
(including asthma), the elderly and children.
* If outdoor air is bad, try to keep indoor air as clean as
possible by keeping windows and doors closed. Air conditioners that
re-circulate air within the home can help filter out harmful particles.
Avoid using air conditioning units that only draw in air from the
outside or that do not have a re-circulating option. Residents should
check the filters on their air conditioners and replace them regularly.
Indoor air filtration devices with HEPA filters can further reduce the
level of particles that circulate indoors.
* If it is too hot during the day to keep the doors or windows
closed and you do not have an air conditioning unit that re-circulates
indoor air, consider going to an air conditioned public place, such as a
library or shopping center, to stay cool and to protect yourself from
harmful air.
* Also, do not use fireplaces (either wood burning or gas),
candles, and vacuums. Use damp cloths to clean dusty indoor surfaces. Do
not smoke.
* If you have symptoms of lung or heart disease that may be
related to smoke exposure, including severe coughing, shortness of
breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain,
palpitations, nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness, contact your
doctor immediately or go to an urgent care center.
When smoke is heavy for a prolonged period of time, fine particles can
build up indoors even though you may not be able to see them. Wearing a
mask may prevent exposures to large particles. However, most masks do
not prevent exposure to fine particles and toxic gases, which may be
more dangerous to your health.
The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving
the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County.
Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services,
Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and
community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000
employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more
about Public Health and the work we do, please visit
http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.
# # #
Sarah Kissell
Public Information Officer
Dept. of Public Health
Los Angeles County
(213) 240-8144 (media)
skissell@ph.lacounty.gov
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