Grey Bruce Public Health is advising residents to continue to monitor local air quality forecasts and alerts, along with associated public health recommendations, as smoke plumes from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec are expected to return to the area.

The province’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for Grey-Bruce, which is measured at the Tiverton station, is forecasted to remain at “Moderate” into Saturday.

When the AQHI for Grey-Bruce is at the Moderate level, Grey Bruce Public Health recommends the following:

• For the At-Risk population, which includes people with heart or breathing problems: consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities if experiencing symptoms.
• For the general population: there is no need to modify your usual outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms, such as coughing or throat irritation.

Wildfire smoke can adversely affect everyone’s health, even at low concentrations.

In addition to the recommended precautions, Grey-Bruce residents can limit their exposure to wildfire smoke by taking the following measures:

• Keep windows and doors closed if the indoor temperature is comfortable;
• Utilize recirculation settings on HVAC systems;
• Install clean, high-quality air filters in ventilation systems;
• Consider using air purifiers with HEPA filters; and
• Seek refuge in community centres, libraries, and shopping malls, where cleaner filtered air is often available.

For More Information:

To connect with the Medical Officer of Health or the program manager, please contact:

Denis Langlois, Communications Co-ordinator,

Grey Bruce Public Health,

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1315,

Communications@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca