- Related
- heat
- wildfires
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- air quality
By Heidi Kirk and Elizabeth Holmes, WRAL reporters
Saturday has an air quality of green, which is generally acceptable for most individuals. However, sensitive groups may still experience varying symptoms from long periods spent outdoors
On Friday, there was an Code Orange Alert for the Triangle. The poor air quality combined with stifling heat and humidity made outdoor activities unpleasant for many. Factor in smoke from the Canadian wildfire in the upper levels of the atmosphere, and it all added up to a day better spent indoors
“You stay inside as much as you can. If you have to go outside, you do <a href="https://healthylife7.com/what-are-the-top-3-chronic-diseases-in-the-us/” title=”What Are the Top 3 Chronic Diseases in the US?”>what you have to do, and pretty much, you go inside and cool off,” said Anthony Allen
Robert Tighe, associate professor of medicine at Duke University, recommends that people with pre-existing health conditions spend as much time as possible in air conditioning this weekend. Even those who are otherwise healthy should consider limiting time outdoors and checking in on family members, neighbors, and others who may be more vulnerable
“The combination between feeling more short of breath from the heat and more short of breath from poor air quality is really something that’s going to be a big concern this weekend,” he said
In Durham, an outdoor summer concert series at the American Tobacco Campus Friday night was moved indoors, to Bay 7. Families were encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy live music in the air conditioning
Niccolo Muti, artistic director for Live at Bay 7, said it was the artist who asked for the change
“She’s about to go on a big national tour, and she was super-worried because she had seen the air quality level, and she was super-uncomfortable singing outside, performing outside with the smoke that’s in the air,” Muti said
Jai’Lynn Whitely-Sousa chose to sweat it out.
“I’m actually from New Jersey,” she said. “The air quality is pretty bad there as well. We’re just kid of bearing it, honestly.”
While much of the northeast saw smoke from Canadian wildfires, WRAL meteorologists said the greater impact to Triangle air quality was from ground-level ozone increasing due to some stagnant air at the surface
“The hazy sky could be with us through Saturday,” said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth
Bradley McLamb, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality, said the health effects of poor air quality vary based on conditions.
“It really depends on how much smoke is still being emanated from those fires, and how much of it is able to make its way in. But we are watching next week as well for potentially another period of enhanced smoke across the region,” McLamb said.
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Duke Energy spokesman, Jeff Brooks, said when heat rises and air quality deteriorates, the utility is ready to meet demand.
“We did see our highest usage of the summer that first week of July. But we were able to reliably meet energy needs and expect to do the same over the next few days,” Brooks said. “When we need it, we can also purchase additional power from other states and utilities to add to our native mix here in the state. So we’re in a good position right now to reliably meet energy needs over the next few days.”
Emergency responders are also preparing for the dangerous conditions
Wake County Emergency Medical Services is responding to an average of about three heat-related calls each day, though that number reached as many as 15 during one day in July
Commander of Community Outreach for Wake County EMS, Staten Young, said hydration is key.
“If you know you are going to be outside, hydrate the day before,” Young said. “You can never be on top of it enough.”
Along with monitoring heat-related illnesses, EMS crews will also be keeping a close eye on the impact of poor air quality
“Sometimes it’s easy to just think we power through these things and don’t take them with the importance that they are,” Tighe said. “But high temperatures, like we’re going to have this weekend, and air pollution can really make people sick.”
