Table of Contents
Air quality alerts have been announced by local authorities and shared by the Federal National Weather Service (NWS), through Vermont and Maine for Saturday due to pollution levels. A separate air quality alert was also issued for Mesa County in Colorado due to smoke caused by forest fires.
Why it matters
According to NWS sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and lung or cardiac people, can “experience unfavorable respiratory symptoms” due to the conditions.
What to know
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (Vanr) published on Sunday an air quality alert “for the fine pollution of the particles of forest fires”, covering the Grande Isle, the west of Franklin, Orleans, Essex, Western Chittenden, Lamoille, Caledonia, Washington, Western Addison, Orange, Eastern Chittenden and Eastern Addison until 11 a.m. and in the evening.
The State Agency says that “all individuals should reduce prolonged or heavy effort” in affected areas, people outside “take more breaks and take less intense activities” while keeping an eye on symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough.
People with heart disease is requested to contact their health care provider if they have symptoms such as “palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue” which “may indicate a serious problem”. People with asthma should keep their drugs at hand and follow their action plans.
An alert of Air Quality Vanr separate due to particle pollution in forest fire smoke was issued until 11 p.m. on Saturday for the west of the Rutland, the Oriental Rutland, Western Windsor and Windsor Oriental with the same health advice in place. For these areas, the air quality index should “approach or exceed” an unhealthy level for sensitive groups.
The VANR also imposed an air quality alert in Bennington, Western Windham and Eastern Windham until 11 pm on Saturday due to “fine particles” which should “approach or exceed the orange or unhealthy code for the category of sensitive groups”. Those who live in these areas are advised to take the same precautions as those suggested for the two previous alerts.
In Maine, the air quality office of the Environment Ministry of the Environment (MDEP) has published an air quality alert linked to particle pollution for the south of Penobscot, the interior Hancock, the Washington center, the Hancock coastal and the Washington coast until 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Scott Olson / Getty
The agency advises people to limit painful external physical activity, in particular for groups which “can be particularly sensitive” such as the elderly and those who have respiratory problems.
He adds: “If you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, throat irritation or uncomfortable feeling in your chest, please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities.”
The MDEP also published an air quality alert until 11 p.m. on Saturday to Northern Oxford, Northern Franklin, Central Somerset, Southern Oxford, Southern Franklin, Southern Somerset, Interior York, Central Interior Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Coastal York, Coastal Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Knox, Knox, Waldo Coastière and Interpoering.
Identical health advice has been issued to those of these areas and to those covered by the previous MDEP alert, the agency noting: “A plume of smoke has moved to Maine during the night, which should continue to move and that values should decrease, but air quality will continue to be a health concern for a large part of the day for these regions.”
Those of Maine can call the survey of 1-800-223-1196 for free to obtain updates on the air quality situation.
Finally, an air quality health advice for forest fires and smoke was issued for the County of Mesa in Colorado by the Public Health and Environment Department of Colorado until 9 a.m. on Saturday.
The agency warns: “If the smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood, you may want to stay inside. This is particularly true for people with heart disease, respiratory diseases, consider moving temporarily if smoke is indexes and smoke is lower than the visibility of 5 miles in smoke in your neighbor
In Florida A NWS heat advice advice is in place for a number of cities on Saturday with the Federal Agency warning the danger of “heat -related diseases”.
What people say
For areas affected by its alert, the Vanr said: “It is normal to be active outside, but to take more breaks and take less intense activities. Monitor symptoms such as coughing or breathlessness.
“Asthmatic people should follow their action plans on asthma and keep fast relief medication at hand. If you have heart disease: symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue can indicate a serious problem. If you have them, contact your health care provider.”
Meanwhile, the MDEP said: “The Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Maine recommends that individuals consider limiting intense external physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who can be particularly sensitive to the effects of high pollutants include very young, the elderly, those who have pre -existing breathing problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who works hard.
“But if you feel symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, throat irritation or uncomfortable feeling in your chest, please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities.”
What happens next
Before next week a severe heat dome should strike large stretches of the United States with up to 300 temperature recordings potentially disputed across the country.
