Port Hills fire and health advice

Emma from Opawa - Saint Martins

This came via a community group - Emma

"Canterbury District Health Board's Community and Public Health Division have issued a health warning to residents over the smoke coming from the Port Hills fires.

Officials say the small particles in smoke can be more harmful than the larger particles because they can be inhaled deep into the lungs.

Health officials are warning residents to close windows and doors.

Here are some tips from Community and Public Health if you are close to the fires:

Avoid exposure where possible by staying indoors and closing windows and doors.
Smokers, the elderly, children and those with heart disease, asthma or other lung disease are at greatest risk of harm from smoke inhalation.
Seek medical help if your symptoms worsen, especially if you have asthma, lung or heart disease, or if you start to experience breathlessness or chest pain.
In healthy people, most symptoms disappear soon after exposure to smoke ends and do not cause long-term health problems. Public health officials are urging residents to make their GP team the first call 24/7 for #carearoundtheclock.


Seek medical help if your symptoms worsen, especially if you have asthma, lung or heart disease, or if you start to experience breathlessness or chest pain. If you did not experience any symptoms at the time you were exposed to the smoke, you are very unlikely to have any long-term health effects. In an emergency phone 111.
"


For more information please visit the Community and Public Health website www.cph.co.nz...