Cấp cứu

Khói cháy rừng

A smokey landscape during the 2017 British Columbia wildfires.

Khói cháy rừng là một dạng ô nhiễm không khí có thể ảnh hưởng đến sức khỏe của quý vị.

Tại sao khói có hại

Khói chứa các hạt ô nhiễm rất nhỏ – được gọi là vật chất dạng hạt hoặc PM – đi sâu vào phổi của quý vị khi quý vị hít vào. Trong số tất cả các chất gây ô nhiễm trong khói cháy rừng, vật chất dạng hạt có nguy cơ lớn nhất đối với sức khỏe. Tìm hiểu thêm về thành phần của khói cháy rừng từ tờ thông tin này của Trung tâm Kiểm soát Dịch bệnh BC (BC Centre for Disease Control, BCCDC).

Hầu hết các triệu chứng có thể được kiểm soát mà không cần chăm sóc y tế:

  • Đau họng
  • Kích ứng mắt
  • Sổ mũi
  • Ho nhẹ
  • Có đờm
  • Thở khò khè
  • Nhức đầu

Một số người có thể gặp các triệu chứng nghiêm trọng hơn và nên tìm kiếm chăm sóc y tế ngay lập tức. Hãy gọi cho HealthLink BC (8-1-1), nói chuyện với bác sĩ chăm sóc chính của quý vị hoặc đến một phòng khám không cần hẹn nếu quý vị đang bị:

  • Hụt hơi
  • Ho dữ dội
  • Chóng mặt
  • Đau ngực
  • Tim đập nhanh

Tại sao khói có hại

Khói chứa các hạt ô nhiễm rất nhỏ – được gọi là vật chất dạng hạt hoặc PM – đi sâu vào phổi của quý vị khi quý vị hít vào. Trong số tất cả các chất gây ô nhiễm trong khói cháy rừng, vật chất dạng hạt có nguy cơ lớn nhất đối với sức khỏe. Tìm hiểu thêm về thành phần của khói cháy rừng từ tờ thông tin này của Trung tâm Kiểm soát Dịch bệnh BC (BC Centre for Disease Control, BCCDC).

Hầu hết các triệu chứng có thể được kiểm soát mà không cần chăm sóc y tế:

  • Đau họng
  • Kích ứng mắt
  • Sổ mũi
  • Ho nhẹ
  • Có đờm
  • Thở khò khè
  • Nhức đầu

Một số người có thể gặp các triệu chứng nghiêm trọng hơn và nên tìm kiếm chăm sóc y tế ngay lập tức. Hãy gọi cho HealthLink BC (8-1-1), nói chuyện với bác sĩ chăm sóc chính của quý vị hoặc đến một phòng khám không cần hẹn nếu quý vị đang bị:

  • Hụt hơi
  • Ho dữ dội
  • Chóng mặt
  • Đau ngực
  • Tim đập nhanh

Những người có rủi ro nhiều hơn

Những người khác nhau phản ứng khác nhau với khói và một số người có rủi ro bị ảnh hưởng sức khỏe nhiều hơn. Giảm tiếp xúc với khói cháy rừng đặc biệt quan trọng đối với những nhóm người sau:

  • Những người mắc các bệnh mãn tính từ trước như hen suyễn, bệnh phổi tắc nghẽn mãn tính (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD), bệnh tim và tiểu đường
  • Những người đang mang thai
  • Trẻ sơ sinh và trẻ nhỏ
  • Người già
  • Những người đã được chẩn đoán bị nhiễm trùng đường hô hấp

Những người khác cũng có thể bị ảnh hưởng bởi khói cháy rừng. Mọi người phản ứng khác nhau, vì vậy hãy lắng nghe cơ thể của quý vị và giảm tiếp xúc nếu khói ảnh hưởng đến quý vị.

Wild fire smoke poster

Đọc về tác động sức khỏe của khói cháy rừng và cách thức để giảm phơi nhiễm.

Tải xuống bích chương khói cháy rừng

Protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke

  • Spend time indoors with filtered air

    • A  portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter or a do-it-yourself air cleaner can reduce indoor air pollution and provides the best protection from wildfire smoke. Use them in spaces where you spend the most time.
    • If you have a building air system, it may filter some but not all of the pollution from wildfire smoke. The amount of protection varies depending on the building.
    • Keep windows and doors closed to keep out smoky outdoor air, but make sure the space doesn’t get too hot.
    • Make sure your air cleaner is the right size for your space, and change the filters regularly.
    • If you don’t have an air cleaner or your home is too hot, spend time in public spaces with air conditioning, like community centres, libraries, and shopping malls.

  • Think about limiting outdoor activities

  • Watch for symptoms

    • Watch for symptoms such as coughing, wheezy breath or headaches. These are signs to take it easier.
    • Continue to manage existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes. Use medications like inhalers as needed and seek medical care if symptoms persist.
    • Get medical help if you have chest discomfort, trouble breathing, severe coughing or wheezing, or dizziness.
    • Even if you are not impacted, remember to look out for others around you, particularly people at higher risk. 

  • Check air quality often

  • Stay cool

    • Hot weather and air pollution can often happen at the same time. Extreme heat is a bigger health risk for most people.
    • Keep cool by spending time in air-conditioned spaces and drinking plenty of water.
    • Check with your local government to find nearby cooling centers.

  • Consider wearing a well-fitted mask

    • If you need to be outside, consider wearing a well-fitted high-efficiency mask like an N95, KB95, or KF94 respirator.
    • Cloth masks with three layers or medical masks provide some protection, but not as much.
    • Single-layer masks, bandanas, scarves, and t-shirts do not protect you from wildfire smoke.
    • Masks can sometimes make breathing harder. If you feel unwell while using a mask for protection from smoke, stop any strenuous activity and go inside where the air is cleaner.

  • Protect indoor air quality

    • Building operators should have a smoke readiness plan based on ASHRAE 44 detailed guidance.
    • Operators of cleaner air facilities providing refuge from smoke should also refer to Health Canada Guidance.
    • If your building has a mechanical ventilation (HVAC) system, your smoke readiness plan can include actions to reduce outdoor air intake and upgrade air filters (highest rating possible, ideally minimum MERV 13). Make sure these changes do not reduce building pressure. 

  • Protect people you care for and outdoor event attendees

  • Protect outdoor workers and unhoused people

    • Employers can provide outdoor workers with high-quality masks, and adjust work to include regular breaks and indoor tasks where possible. It is important to support workers, monitor symptoms, and to stop outdoor work if needed.
    • WorkSafeBC provides guidance to protect workers from wildfire smoke and heat stress.
    • People experiencing homelessness have limited access to clean indoor air. Help protect health in our communities by allowing access to indoor community spaces for as long as possible

Guidance to buy or build an air cleaner

Air cleaners can improve the air that you breath indoors. You can purchase a portable air cleaner, or make one using the resources below. Research shows that well-constructed home-made air cleaners can remove fine particles similarly to commercial portable cleaners.

  • Tips for buying a portable air cleaner

    • Has a HEPA air filter — removes the small particles in wildfire smoke.
    • Ideally also has an activated carbon filter —carbon filters can reduce some gaseous pollutants.
    • Is certified by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers).
    • Is appropriate for the room size — check the recommended maximum room size to make sure the one you buy is sized for your space. Multiple devices may be needed for larger rooms.
    • Does not produce ozone, a lung irritant. Some units use electrostatic precipitation or ionizing technologies that can create ozone gas. If the unit has these features, make sure it has been tested for ozone production or is certified for low ozone production by the California Air Resources Board.
    • Has ENERGY STAR designation to maximize energy efficiency.
    • Replace the air filter as recommended.

  • How to make a do-it-yourself (DIY) portable air cleaner?

    • Follow the Step by Step Guide from BREATHE,  a project of the BC Lung Foundation.
    • Use one DIY air cleaner per 150 to 500 square feet.
    • Replace the air filter every 3-6 months; watch out for filter discoloration, visible dirt or dust, or decreased air flow.
    • To read the evidence on DIY air cleaners and learn about other designs visit the BCCDC.  

Wildfire smoke resources for youth, children and pregnant people

Breathing in wildfire smoke during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood can acutely impact the health of the child and the pregnant person. A growing body of research suggests that this may also have longer-term health effects. Pregnant people and those caring for young children should take extra care to try to limit exposure to wildfire smoke.

How to check local smoke conditions

  1. Check local air quality data: Visit the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) air quality map. Find your community on the map and locate the nearby air quality sensors, marked by colored shapes. Note the color and number of the sensor.
  2. Use the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI): Match the sensors color/number to the AQHI risk category (low, moderate, high or very high) to decide if you need to adjust your plans. Refer to the AQHI table below for steps to protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke.
  3. Check air quality often. Air quality can change throughout the day.

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

  • The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) can help people understand how air quality can affect their health, and how they can protect themselves when air quality is poor due to conditions including wildfire smoke.
  • The AQHI forecast can help you plan tomorrow’s outdoor activities.  
  • Learn more about how its calculated from this BCCDC Fact Sheet. 

Download the AQHI

AQHI-Air-Quality-Health-Index

Air quality warnings

Watch for these air quality notifications issued in the VCH region.

  • Within Metro Vancouver

    An Air Quality Warning is issued by Metro Vancouver when air quality over a large area of the region worsens, or is expected to worsen soon. 

    Visit this Metro Vancouver website to learn more about the types of warnings that are issued, how to know if there is smoke in the air, and how to stay up-to-date: Metro Vancouver - Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality

  • Outside of Metro Vancouver

    A Air Quality Warning is issued by BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy when areas of the province may be impacted by wildfire smoke within 24 to 48 hours.

Air quality maps in our region

  • Government Regulatory Sensor Map

    Measurements of fine particulate mater (PM2.5) are typically used to monitor wildfire smoke. This is because PM2.5 is an air pollutant consistently found in wildfire smoke, has known health impacts, and is measured by existing networks of government monitors.

    Data from these government monitors can be found here on the BC government site and here on the Metro Vancouver site.

  • Low-Cost Sensor Map

    Some Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) communities don’t have local government air quality monitoring stations to measure PM2.5. VCH works with community organizations to install portable air quality sensors for PM2.5, with a focus on rural, remote, and smaller communities that would otherwise have limited access to local air quality data. (Learn more about this VCH project, AQ-CARE.) 

    Click here for a map displaying PM2.5 data from both portable and government air quality monitors. Note that this map does not include all health-harming air pollutants that may lead to an air quality warning, but does provide a good indication of wildfire smoke conditions. 

Local weather, shelter, and emergency information

The best way to protect your health from wildfire smoke is to spend time in filtered indoor air. Close the windows and use a portable HEPA air cleaner or a DIY air cleaner. If you don’t have an air cleaner or your home is too hot, spend time in public spaces with air conditioning.

Many local governments and First Nations post updated information on their social media pages about cooler and cleaner air spaces or temporary shelters activated during the hot and smoky season.

Confirm with organizations directly if services or spaces are currently available. 

Learn where to find shelter, weather, and emergency information

More wildfire smoke resources

Find more information on the health effects of wildfire smoke, how to prepare for the season and ways to protect health from wildfire smoke.

The BCCDC website provides many factsheets for wildfire smoke. Key factsheets included under the BCCDC resource tab are: Health effects of wildfire smoke, How to prepare for the wildfire smoke season, Portable air cleaners for wildfire smoke, Wildfire smoke and Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), Wildfire smoke during extreme heat events, and Do-It-Yourself air cleaners.