Yesterday we showed you the enormity of the fire at the city dump; indeed it extends across most of the 50 acres, and is by any account a colossal mess. There is a plan to suppress the fire, but that will take time to effect and in the meantime city residents are being smothered by the smoke. It might not be affecting you right now, but when the wind direction changes – everyone gets a taste of the putrid smoke. And today the City Council in coordination with the Central Region Health Unit and the Public Health Department discussed the opening of a shelter.
Dr. Paul Edwards, Central Health Region
“It is not mandatory evacuation. It is voluntary whereby if the smoke becomes so thick, those individuals can have a place of refuge or relief or a sanctuary to get away from that exposition. So it something that will be temporary. We don’t want anybody to get the idea that it opens let’s say this evening and you are going to displaced permanently. You go and you stay there overnight and for the next week or two or however long it takes for this problem to be resolved. That is not the intention. It is to go temporarily to get away from that exposure. For those individuals that are affected to know psychologically, so that fear and panic does not prevail, there are options. So that was all the thought process in relation to opening the temporary shelter.”
Wayne Usher, City Councillor
“We have identified and we have also gotten permission through the
National Sports Council to use the dorm at the MCC Grounds. The dorm has been readied by the National Sports Council. It’s director Anthony Michael has went out this morning with one of our health representative to look at it and it is being readied right now.”
Dr. Paul Edwards,
“And we are recommending to people. We basically divided when you talk about signs and symptoms, and the need for them to access the healthcare system. We know the smoke and inhaling the smoke, we know present various things including headache, irritation of the eyes, runny nose, irritation of the sinuses, some cough, some scratchy throat, and those are the things for short exposure, medium to long term individuals will present. If there is a need for individuals presenting those signs and symptoms to access healthcare centre, we are saying go ahead. The health system is prepared for that. However though it is very important for me to share with those individual who have those pre-existing conditions, the smoke then is a trigger to what we normally say exacerbates or makes worse those underlying conditions. So those individuals who have those conditions and with the exposure to smoke and you start feeling your chest tightening up, that short of breath, we say access the health care system and as early as possible. Don’t wait until the situation becomes worse.”
And what about the long term risks associated with exposure to the smoke? Edwards also discussed those.
Dr. Paul Edwards,
“And when I am talking long term, it will definitely mean you are talking about toxic substances, long duration, high frequency, long exposure and having pre-existing conditions. Now that definitely will have to be, let’s say you take somebody and you put them there and thick smoke and you’re forcing them just to inhale. I am certain natural human reaction is once you smell, for the most part you try to turn away and try as best as possible to liberate yourself from that exposure. So it has to be over a long time, medium to long time and those different conditions have to take into play. It is not only one specific condition. But certainly, being exposed to anything of that nature for a long time because you’re talking now about the smoke, you’re talking about different substances that are very toxic, taking into account exactly what it is; household garbage, all the plastics, all the papers, all the wood and things like that. Long term effects and we’re really talking about a long period of time and also you’re talking about many other factors inherent to that individual whereby there are possibilities of long term illnesses. That’s a reality.”
Authorities are discussing other plans to put out the fire this evening.
