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The NWT’s chief public health officer says wildfires are generating “very high-risk readings” on air quality monitors across the North Slave and South Slave.
In a Thursday afternoon advisory, Dr Kami Kandola said air quality was fluctuating throughout those regions as winds and weather patterns shift.
Yellowknife’s air quality was at the worst-possible end of the Air Quality Health Index on Thursday morning.
More: Check NWT air quality conditions
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By the afternoon, Yellowknife’s air had improved but South Slave communities like Hay River were instead facing heavily contaminated air.
“People who are physically active outdoors, including outdoor workers, are at higher risk of exposure. Smoke levels can vary significantly by location and hour, so staying informed is essential,” Dr Kandola wrote, urging people to regularly check their local air quality.
Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with diabetes, lung or heart conditions are considered most at risk.
Symptoms of smoke exposure include headaches, sore eyes, nose or throat, a cough or runny nose, and watery eyes. In more severe cases, people can experience dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing and heart palpitations.
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Kandola listed a range of ways to protect yourself and resources you can access when wildfire smoke ruins your local air quality.
“Check in on neighbours, Elders and loved ones to ensure they are safe and hydrated,” she added.
The City of Yellowknife’s fieldhouse and playground are free to access and recommended by City Hall as safe indoor recreation spaces when smoky conditions prevail.
The city’s library and visitor centre are alternative places you can go to find relief from the smoke.
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