Air pollution levels reached five times the permitted limit in Galway city this week.
The HSE have issued a public health statement in relation to the outbreak of gorse fires throughout the country, particularly in the west of Ireland.
The Cloosh Valley in Galway, Ireland’s biggest forest, has been the worst affected by the outbreak of gorse fires all over the country, with the Galway Advertiser reporting that a level five times the normal rate of air pollution was exceeded in Galway on Tuesday evening as smoke spread to the city and the surrounding areas from the Cloosh Valley.
The HSE have issued a statement urging people to avoid spending long amounts of time outdoors in areas affected by any smoke or ash.
They have advised people to listen to local and national radio for updates on weather conditions in their area and to use their own personal judgement because smoke levels will change depending on wind conditions.
The HSE also posted information about the health effects of smoke and ash, symptoms of concern and precautions to take, which can be seen below.
Health Effects of smoke
Smoke can irritate the air passages, the skin and the eyes. People can have sore eyes, tears, cough and a runny nose.
Symptoms of concern
A cough that is continuing or worsening
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Significant tiredness
If you are concerned that you may need medical care, please contact your General Practitioner (GP).
Who can be affected most by smoke (vulnerable groups)?
Young children, pregnant women, smokers, the elderly, and people with heart or lung conditions, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COAD and congestive heart failure are more vulnerable to the effects of smoke.
Precautions
The following is recommended for vulnerable groups when smoke conditions are light to moderate i.e. when indicated by a smoke odour and haziness or visibility that is less than eight km.. The following is also recommended for healthy individuals when smoke conditions are heavy i.e. when visibility is less and are within about four kilometres.
- Stay indoors as much as possible with windows and doors closed
- Avoid vigorous activity especially outdoors as one usually breathes faster and often through ones mouth when exercising.
- Don’t burn anything, including wood, gas and even candles.
- Avoid smoking
- When in a car, keep the windows and vents closed. If turning on the air-conditioning, please use the “re-circulate” air option.
- If asthmatic, keep your treatment inhaler with you.
Ash
These fires may have deposited ash on indoor and outdoor surfaces. This ash can be irritating to the skin, nose and throat. It is recommended that you…
- Do not allow children or animals to play in ash
- If handling ash, avoid skin contact
- Wash any home-grown fruits or vegetables before eating
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