Precautions Urged During Poor Air Quality And Hot Weather
By Pasadena Independent
Published: Thursday, August 27th, 2009
With smoky conditions and temperatures approaching triple digits for the rest of the week, the Pasadena Fire Department and Pasadena Public Health Department remind everyone to take care of themselves, their children and their pets.
“Due to the Morris Fire near Azusa and resulting poor air quality in Pasadena, elderly residents and other sensitive individuals, including adults and children with heart disease, emphysema, asthma, or other lung diseases, should stay indoors as much as possible,” said Dr. Takashi Wada, Pasadena public health officer. “As a precaution, in areas of visible smoke or an odor of smoke, all individuals are urged to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.”
Schools that are in session should suspend all outdoor physical activities including physical education and after-school sports until conditions improve.
Non-school related sports organizations for children (such as Little League) and adults 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 activities such as hikes and picnics.
The air quality, combined with excessive heat, can cause heat stroke, exhaustion, heat cramps and dehydration. Insufficient water or salt intake may lead to a deficiency in the production of sweat, which may cause heat exhaustion. Symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, pale and clammy skin, rapid and weak pulse, fast and shallow breathing, muscle cramps and intense thirst. Anyone with these symptoms should be removed to a cooler, shaded location and given fluids such as water or sports drinks.
“Anyone experiencing diminished judgment, disorientation, pale and clammy skin, rapid and weak pulse and/or fast and shallow breathing should receive immediate attention,” said Fire Chief Dennis Downs.
For more information, call Pasadena Fire Department at (626) 744-4675 or Pasadena Public Health Department at (626) 744-6005. Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/disaster for more specific emergency preparedness information.
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1 Response for “Precautions Urged During Poor Air Quality And Hot Weather”
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All these make it important for the residents of Pasadena to keep track of theair quality of their respective areas which is available on the internet. By taking precuationary measures beforehand, the different respiratory diseases could well be avoided.
Tony