The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—Dayton General Hospital Respiratory Therapist Tom Anderson said there has been an uptick in people seeking medical care because of poor air quality from smoke due to ongoing fires in northern Washington and British Columbia.

People are having problems with breathing, burning eyes and nose, chest pain and tightness of breath, which brings on anxiety, and compounds the problem, he said.

“On Monday the air quality index was 274, placing Dayton in the Very Unhealthy category, and almost in the Hazardous category for particle pollution,” said Anderson. “That will affect anybody, whether you are healthy or not. But it is going to affect anybody with heart and lung conditions, pregnant women. The list grows.”

During air quality alerts, Anderson advises against outdoor activities, but promotes the use of an N95 particulate mask, if outdoor activity can’t be avoided. “Not a paper mask or surgical mask,” he said.

Anderson said there is a rule for visibility and whether a person should be out of doors, or not.

“If you can’t see a mile you should not be outdoors,” he said.

Anderson said he has seen city workers outside without masks, and people exercising on the river dyke. “I wish people would pay more attention,” he said.

People with heart failure, angina ischemic heart disease, COPD, emphysema and asthma are at higher risk from high concentrations of smoke, as are older adults, children, diabetics, and pregnant women.

The state Department of Ecology issued an air quality alert for our region on Monday, which was to remain in effect until noon on Thursday, when the smoke should clear out, at least for now.