Due to wildfires in surrounding areas, southeast Georgia and southern parts of South Carolina including Bryan,
Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Jasper counties have been issued a special weather statement by the National Weather Service because of the smoke in the air.
Health department officials would like residents in these counties to be mindful of the precautions that should be taken, especially for those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions:
● Stay inside with windows and doors shut.
● Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your
home or car.
● If you do not have an air conditioner and if it is too warm to stay
inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.
● Avoid cooking and vacuuming, which can increase pollutants
indoors.
● Avoid physical exertion.
● Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan.
● Keep at least a five-day supply of medication on hand.
● Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest
tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue. This is important for
not only people with chronic lung or heart disease, but also for
individuals who have not been previously diagnosed with such illnesses.
Smoke can “unmask” or produce symptoms of such diseases.
● Keep airways moist by drinking lots of water. Breathing through a
warm, wet washcloth can also help relieve dryness.
● Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce
breathing problems. A HEPA filter may reduce the number of irritating
fine particles in indoor air.
