A growing haze over the past few days has set in for the West Central region and led to a special air quality statement from Environment Canada being issued late Wednesday night.
It states that, "smoke from wildfires in northern Alberta and northern Saskatchewan is causing periods of poor air quality and reduced visibility". Those concerns can vary hour-to-hour based weather conditions such as wind, and they tend to fluctuate wildly over short distance.
Outdoor activities are being monitored closely as smoke levels increase. As the haze lingers it's smart to limit your time outdoors with smoke being a main contributor to symptoms like eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough if staying outside too long. Other serious concerns include wheezing, severe coughing, or chest pains, as in the case of any medical emergency people should seek medical assistance.
The smoke affects some populations more than others. Outdoor air pollution is extra rough on people aged 65 and older, anyone who has young kids or is pregnant (or both), and also anyone with pre-existing conditions.
It's important to limit time outdoors as the smoke continues to have a presence, reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor work according to Environment Canada. You can combat the smoke inside as well by keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible, and it's also smart to prioritize keeping things cool in the case of severe heat joining the lingering smoke.
Further tips for indoors include using a good quality air filter or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles. While you can't filter the air outside it is recommended to use a well-fitting and well-constructed respirator type mask to reduce exposure.
Any other questions regarding air quality or health risks associated with smoke can be directed to HealthLine 811, and other resources are available at canada.ca/wildfire-smoke and airhealth.ca.