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The active wildfires are burning an estimated 627,729 hectares of land in the province, which is about 9.6 percent of Saskatchewan’s entire landmass. Residents in many areas have been dealing with widespread smoke for weeks already and summer hasn’t even started.
That prolonged exposure could lead to long-term effects, according to health experts like Jill Hubick, a registered nurse and certified educator with Lung Saskatchewan.
“I think it’s important for everyone to think about the fact that our lungs are only meant to really breathe in clean air. It’s like your lungs are the internal air filter to the outside world, and so there is often short-term and long-term effects from inhaling smoke, and they can range from mild to severe,” she said.
On the milder side, people may experience irritated eyes, a runny nose, headaches, or worsening of allergies. Long-term exposure, however, can put some at risk for chronic diseases or conditions. In fact, there is a strong correlation between wildfires and visits to both the hospital and the pharmacy.
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In the summer of 2023, a nine-year-old boy died of asthma exacerbated by the smoke from wildfires in 100 Miles House, B.C. The boy’s family said they were aware that poor air quality was dangerous, but, like most people, didn’t understand just how bad it could be.
Health experts warn the foreign material inhaled through wildfire smoke creates a reaction in our lungs and immune systems that causes inflammation and increased mucous production and that can cause airways to become spastic and hyperactive.
Angela Yao is a senior scientist with the Environmental Health Services at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and her research is centered around public health and environmental epidemiology.
“There’s not a very clear-cut threshold that we’re talking about here because of exposure to wildfire smoke…but like many other forms of air pollution it is kind of the relationship that the health impacts increase as the air quality worsens, but these health impacts can actually start pretty soon once the air quality starts to deviate from your normal air quality,” Yao explained.
For firefighters on the front line battling to keep our communities safe, the effects of smoke inhalation can onset quicker. Mike Kwasnica is the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs and he’s been handling a lot of the personnel placement around the province in what’s become an unprecedented early wildfire season.
“We do what we have to. You look at these people who are up north right now, some of them are fighting fires for three days. To wear a mask for three days is not comfortable either, so you do find yourself taking them off just so you have a little bit better breathing, but you do get in the situation sometimes where you probably inhale things that you shouldn’t be inhaling, and the long term effects can linger.”
Kwasnica added, “The safety factor has probably gone down, not in any fault of their own. It’s just that’s the nature of what’s going on up there.”
Hydration is one of the best ways both firefighters and the public can protect themselves when there is smoke in the air. Yao said keeping yourself hydrated can help prevent both short and long-term symptoms from getting worse.
“Make sure that you drink lots of water. That can really help reduce the inflammation that’s caused by the exposure, and especially for people who are at higher risk, we really need to monitor their condition. Have an ample supply of your regular medication and seek medical help if you’re feeling uncomfortable, and even call 911 if you’re having some really severe symptoms like shortness of breath or wheezing.”
Hubick added smoke inhalation can often bring out symptoms from underlying conditions, so if you notice something out of the ordinary, it may be time to go get checked.
“Everyone’s threshold for exposure may be different. Again, someone with an underlying condition such as asthma or COPD, are going to be affected more significantly right away. Their conditions are going to be harder to manage. There may be people out there who don’t know about a diagnosis, they haven’t been diagnosed yet, but they still are living with a condition, and these poor air quality days may worsen that.”
Environment and Climate Change Canada provides daily Air Quality Health Index updates and warnings. Health experts recommend wearing N95 masks – which limit the amount of particulate inhaled – outdoors when Air Quality Health Index ratings reach high risk, or better yet, stay indoors with windows closed. Portable air purifiers for those with respiratory illnesses are also recommended.
