Air Quality

OVERVIEW

Air quality refers to the condition of the air and how it affects the health of those who breathe it. While forest fire smoke is the most significant and noticeable contributor to poor air quality in British Columbia, other factors can also affect air quality, including industrial activity, agricultural burning, and hazardous spills.

Poor air quality can cause immediate effects such as respiratory irritation, breathing difficulties, sensory issues, neurological symptoms, and altered senses. Long-term or repeated exposure can contribute to serious health conditions including heart disease, chronic lung disease, and cognitive decline. Those most at risk include seniors, infants and young children, pregnant people, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

PREPAREDNESS

Poor air quality can develop quickly and last for extended periods. Having plans and resources in place before an air quality event allows communities to protect members, particularly those most vulnerable.

Cleaner Air Spaces

Identifying and designating clean air spaces within the community before an air quality event ensures that members have somewhere safe to go. These do not need to be dedicated facilities, and can be spaces like band offices, health centres, or community halls.

A suitable location would ideally have:

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
Additional/portable air filtration and air conditioning systems capable of filtering fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
Ability to prevent infiltration of outdoor air pollutants (e.g., quality doors, sealed windows).
Connected to emergency power in the possible event of a power outage.

Health Canada has created a Guidance for Cleaner Air Spaces during Wildfire Smoke Events document that details recommendations for a facility.

Vulnerable Populations

Some community members face a higher risk of serious health effects from poor air quality and should be prioritized during an air quality event. These include:

Seniors and Elders.
Infants and young children.
Pregnant people.
People with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD.
People with cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
People who work or spend significant time outdoors on the land.

Before air quality season, leadership should identify and map the locations of vulnerable community members and consider conducting wellness checks when warnings are issued.

Individual Actions

Individual community members should ensure that they are prepared as well.

Indoor air quality matters too. Certain everyday activities can introduce additional pollutants into the home, worsening air quality at a time when outdoor air is already poor.

Community members should be encouraged to avoid the following during air quality warnings:

Smoking indoors.
Using wood-burning stoves or fireplaces.
Cooking on high heat without ventilation.

Gas stoves and high-heat frying release particles and gasses.

Using aerosol sprays (e.g. cleaning products, hairspray).
Running gas-powered equipment indoors.

Individual community members should ensure that they are prepared as well.

When outdoor air quality is poor, staying indoors reduces exposure. However, outdoor pollutants can still enter the home through gaps, ventilation systems, and open doors and windows. Taking a few steps to reduce this infiltration can meaningfully improve indoor air quality during an air quality event.

Keep windows, doors, and fireplaces closed.
Turn off ventilation systems that draw air from outside unless equipped with a high-quality filter.
Run a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter.
Replace HVAC filters with high-MERV rated filters.

If you cannot protect the whole home, pick one room, keep the door closed, and run an air purifier continuously. Avoid any activities that generate smoke or odours in this space.

Protective Equipment

Communities could consider sourcing protective equipment before an air quality event for use by community members who may face challenges in procuring equipments.

N95 respirators filter out at least 95% of airborne particles when properly fitted, and are the most effective personal protection against wildfire smoke. Portable air purifiers can be effective in individual homes or community led spaces.

EMCR Task Number

Communities experiencing emergencies may be eligible to obtain an Emergency Management and Climate Readiness task number through the Southwest Region EMCR.

1-888-663-3456
preoc2.ops1@gov.bc.ca

A task number will enable your community to be compensated for resources spent on response.

Forest Fire

Forest Fires are the most common cause of air quality warnings in British Columbia. For information about forest fires, please visit our dedicated tab.

HOW WE CAN HELP

We support 31 communities, from Yale to Semiahmoo to Squamish, in improving emergency planning and preparedness at the local and regional levels.

In an emergency, we can:

Provide surge support to administration and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Assist with the coordination of resources to communities.
Facilitate coordination communication with affected community members and partners.

Before an emergency, we can:

Assist with project engagement for emergency-related projects.
Coordinate discussions and collaborative efforts between communities, governments and other agencies.
Assist in communications and information management for contracts, projects and initiatives throughout the regional levels.
Assist in developing community emergency plans and preparedness toolkits for application during emergency situations.

Our vision is to have all of the 31 Mainland Coast Salish First Nations, from Yale to Squamish to Semiahmoo, resilient to existing and future disasters.

EMERGENCY PLANNING SECRETARIAT

Yo:yes Sq'eq'o | Working Together

AIR QUALITY