Canadian Wildfires are hitting the United States, degrading the air quality, with Flint standing at hazardous levels of air quality according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has issued an air quality alert urging residents to keep windows and doors tightly shut, run AC’s on recirculate mode, postpone or reduce heavy outdoor tasks and utilize an N95 or P100 respirator.
Students on campus looking for N95 and KN95 masks can find them in North Bank, Suite 300. Masks are also located at the main entrance of most buildings on campus.
During this time, the community is advised not to burn yard waste, avoid indoor pollutants such as frying food, vacuuming, smoking or burning anything.
Breathing in smoke can cause chest pain, tiredness, headaches, irritated sinuses, fast heartbeat, scratchy throat, runny nose, stinging eyes, asthma attacks, wheezing, trouble breathing and coughing.
Those at higher risk of getting sick from smoke inhalation include children, those who are pregnant and people with chronic conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or heart disease.
Air quality is expected to stay at or above very unhealthy through Friday.
Rylie Yeiter is a writer for the Michigan Times and can be reached at jasobii@umich.edu.
