NEWS FILE PHOTO
Smoke settled over Medicine Hat on Aug. 15, 2018. After a brief break from the haze conditions are expected to worsen on Aug. 23.
Environment Canada has issued an air quality statement for the Medicine Hat-Bow Island-Suffield area as smoke from forest fires in British Columbia rolls across the Prairies.
Environment Canada issued the special statement at 4:25 a.m. Wednesday. On Tuesday afternoon the Medicine Hat and Cypress Hills-Foremost areas were the only ones in the province for which an advisory hadn’t been issued. On Wednesday morning statements are issued for all of Alberta and most of Saskatchewan and B.C.
The statement says smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour. Air quality is not expected to improve for the rest of the week.
Increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath may be experienced. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma particularly at risk.
The air quality statement advises those with difficulty breathing stay inside and find an indoor place that’s cool and ventilated.
The Air Quality Health Index for Medicine Hat is currently at 3, which is considered low risk. The forecast maximums for Wednesday and Thursday are 5, considered moderate risk. You can keep up with the index ratings at airhealth.ca.
