FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2017
Contact:
Susan Klein-Rothschild, Santa Barbara County Public Health Deputy
Director, (805) 896-1057
Lyz Hoffman, Air Pollution Control District Public Information Officer,
(805) 364-2247
Air Quality Warning
Still in Effect
Continue to Take
Precautions
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Monitoring
stations continue to record unhealthy air in Santa Barbara County, with levels
of fine particles (PM 2.5) still high. Larger particles (PM 10) and smoke aloft
in the air will make air quality conditions appear worse and lead to poor
visibility in some areas of the county. Those larger particles are less harmful
to health than the smaller, fine particles, which are invisible. The larger
particles can break down into smaller particles over time, so everyone should
continue to take precautions.
The Air Quality Warning will remain in effect until
conditions improve. To view the smoke forecast and current conditions, see https://www.ourair.org/todays-air-quality/.
Updated forecasts will be posted there. Please assume the Santa Barbara air
quality indices for particles (PM 10 and PM 2.5) applies to Carpinteria as
well. Air quality conditions may be worse close to the fire.
We recommend that everyone:
·
Stay indoors, with windows closed and indoor circulation
only. Air conditioning is also an option
if the outside intake is closed. Avoid going outdoors. Particles can build up indoors,
so if you are feeling symptoms where you are, be prepared to relocate to an
indoor location with better ventilation, or to leave the area.
o
Consider
purchasing a HEPA air cleaner and placing it in a designated “clean air room”
in your home. This will help with the smoke odors and the particles.
o
Staying indoors is especially important for children,
seniors, and those with heart and lung conditions, as they are more vulnerable
to impacts.
o
Regarding staying warm indoors when the temperatures are low,
all heating systems are different but have the potential to bring in outside
air and ash. Consider wearing layers instead.
·
Avoid driving when possible and use “recycle” or re-circulate
mode to avoid drawing smoky air into the car.
·
Drink plenty of fluids to keep respiratory membranes moist.
·
For people who have to be outdoors for short periods of time,
N95 masks, when fitted properly, offer some protection from fine particles in
smoke. For updated lists of distribution sites, visit http://countyofsb.org/thomasfire.sbc#update.
·
We do not advise ash clean-up at this time as ash is still
falling and the situation is unpredictable. For more about ash clean-up see
this page: https://www.ourair.org/smoke-health/
o
Do not
use leaf blowers, as they will stir up ash.
If you have symptoms that may be related to exposure to smoke
and soot, contact your doctor. Symptoms include repeated coughing, shortness of
breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain,
palpitations, headaches, and nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness.
A break in the large-scale offshore wind pattern is expected
Friday afternoon, bringing an improvement in smoke impacts across the region. A
slight decrease in ash fallout is expected as the Thomas Fire moves farther
away from populated areas.
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