Let them play outside.
Even with smoke from wildfires making Squamish’s air hazy for almost two weeks, even the youngest children should be allowed out to play, according to a medical health officer.
“Kids like to play, I would not tell parents to keep them inside and restrict them to screen time when they could be playing at the playground,” said Dr. Paul Martiquet, medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health. “Activity is healthy for kids. You know, if the kids are having symptoms, then by all means take them inside, but if they are fine and having a great time, then no need to change that.”
Martiquet said although there is a slightly higher risk from the smoke for women who are pregnant, mothers-to-be don’t need to worry excessively about the smoke either.
“I would say they shouldn’t take part in the triathlon,” he said with a laugh. “You know your limits and because the air quality is bad we would wish people paid special attention… especially if they have asthma or bronchitis or chronic obstructive lung disease, those kinds of conditions can be exacerbated.”
Five people went to the Squamish General Hospital emergency department in the past week due to respiratory issues from the smoke, according to Vancouver Coastal Health, although none of the five were admitted to hospital.
Air quality in Squamish reached a high of 10, meaning high health risk, on July 6, but air quality on Friday was a 4 and the smoke was expected to dissipate over the coming days, according to Squamish Weather.
About 951 fires have burned in B.C. since April 1, including 123 in the Coastal fire region, which includes blazes north of Pemberton.
