Due to the smoke expected to persist in the Calgary region for several days, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a precautionary air quality advisory for the entire region and recommend people take precautions against potential health concerns, especially those with respiratory conditions.

People with lung diseases, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and individuals with existing cardiovascular conditions (such as angina, previous heart attack and congestive heart failure), can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits.

Although minor smoke conditions do not typically cause health concerns in healthy individuals, if smoke conditions become more severe, even healthy individuals may experience temporary irritation of eyes and throat, and possibly shortness of breath.

If you can taste and/or smell smoke in the air, AHS recommends you monitor your symptoms minimize physical activity outdoors and remain indoors with windows, doors and air circulation fans/vents closed. If you are driving to another location, keep windows and vents closed and run your car fan on re-circulate mode to avoid drawing in outdoor air.

Individuals experiencing symptoms can also call Health Link 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free at 811, to speak to a registered nurse. Information about the air quality in many areas of Alberta is updated hourly on the Alberta Environment Air Quality website and can be found here.

The smoke is being generated by wildfires in Banff National Park and central British Columbia.