Sept. 15, 2022
Air Quality Awareness in a Haze
Naval Hospital Bremerton, Washington —
A distant haze... those spectacular sunsets and sunrises the last
few days in the Pacific Northwest, brought about from surrounding wildfires,
have pushed the air quality index way above normal across much of the
greater Puget Sound region. As a result, there's a host of potential
associated health risks that mirror COVID-19 symptoms, especially with those
with sensitive to respiratory and cardiovascular system ailments. "Wildfire
smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles and can make anyone sick.
Symptoms of breathing in smoke can include coughing, trouble breathing
normally, scratchy throat, stinging eye, runny nose, irritated sinuses,
wheezing, chest pain, headaches, asthma attack, tiredness, and fast
heartbeat," explained Cmdr. Carolyn Ellison, NHB/NMRTC Bremerton Director
for Public Health. When the air is smoky. Ellison recommends staying indoors
as much as possible, avoid vigorous outdoor activities, close the windows,
recirculate air conditioning, and consider an air cleaner with a filter to
have one room in your home with extra clean air (Official Navy photo by
Douglas H Stutz, NHB/NMRTC Bremerton public affairs officer).