.jpg)
The Manitoba Lung Association is educating people on the dangers of wildfire smoke inhalation, especially during air quality warnings.
"We provide education and ongoing research to local researchers to provide evidence-based programming and supports," says Juliette Mucha, the President and CEO of the Manitoba Lung Association in Winnipeg. "We also provide support groups for people with lung cancer, long-COVID, and lung transplants."
The non-profit has been around for 120 years in Winnipeg, offering aid to the public under the name Sanitorium Board of Manitoba. They previously offered help for tuberculosis patients.
"We saw last week, wildfires are becoming a lot more predominant this year, and earlier in the season as well. So what does that mean? Last week, I woke up one morning and we all smelled smoke. I checked the air quality health index. There was one day the reading was up to six."
A regular day will have a reading of between 0 and 1. The higher the number, the more dangerous it can become for people to spend time outside, inhaling the wildfire smoke.
"That means to take precautions, take measures. Especially with the winds that we had, those fine particles that are being released with the wildfire smoke are travelling through the air. We are all susceptible, and we all need to take precautions."
Mucha encourages people to spend less time outdoors when the air quality warning is higher, if possible, and for people who enjoy outdoor sports or recreation, to choose to do them indoors.
"Close your windows and put the A/C on. Make sure you have a HEPA filter if you have an air purifier. Wear an N95 mask if you do have chronic lung issues."
Anyone interested in more information, including finding the current air quality health index, can find it directly on the Manitoba Lung Association's website.