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Real Name: Emily Hagedorn Member Since: April 08, 2006 Last Signed In: August 27, 2008 Profile Views: 9530 Blog Views: 45872 Web site wants stories of health care woe BCHS coach talks about practice preceding player's death BCHS football player's cause of death Local doc, patient in The New York Times Health leaders worry about fate of Medi-Cal A trip to the food bank The Pulse is on Twitter! I want some belated birthday cake Drug testing your kids Bakersfield nurse practitioner on TV August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08
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Have you seen ash falling from the sky?
When I left for work this morning, I noticed some ash on my windshield.
Did you see this too? It could be affecting your health, warns the local air district. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued a health warning this morning for Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings, Tulare and the valley portion of Kern counties, with the potential to affect Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, due to the fires in Santa Barbara and Fresno counties, according to a release from the district. The district’s air monitoring stations in Bakersfield have recorded elevated particulate matter levels this morning, and Kern residents have reported ash falling from the sky, the release says. If you have health conditions aggravated by air quality, you might want to take special precautions. Exposure to the smoke and ash can aggravate lung disease, increase the risk of respiratory infections and prompt asthma attacks and acute bronchitis. People with heart and lung diseases should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with bad air quality. Older adults and children should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion, as conditions warrant, the release says. For more information, go to www.valleyair.org or call the district’s Bakersfield office at 326-6900. 7 comments from 5 users
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posted by
TSM
on Aug 14, 2007 at 11:39 AM
There was a slight amount falling in the downtown area as of 10:30am this morning.
posted by
AudreyB
on Aug 14, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Santa Barbara is making an ash of us.
posted by
Mom2CandC
on Aug 14, 2007 at 04:19 PM
We have noticed this during the last day or so - last night it was dropping while we were trying to do a little yard work in the evening.....My youngest son, 3 years, ended up needing a breathing treatment for his asthma after being outside for about 20 minutes.....we have stayed inside all day today because of the bad air quality warnings.....it's sad when I have to explain to the kids that we can't go swimming outside and enjoy the last week of summer vacation because of bad air quality and forest fires. And now there are 4 fires in Stallion Springs! UGH!
posted by
Quest
on Aug 15, 2007 at 04:42 AM
Yep, I noticed some falling yesterday morning as I was leaving the hospital. I'm not sure that we have seen any kind of spike in admissions due to the ash, but our ER traffic has been steady.There are a lot of anecdotal stories about people having more problems right now among my co-workers and their children. It's really too bad we have this problem on top of our already poor air. Bakersfield would be a much nicer place if the air was cleaner. Speaking of which, are there any consumer or clean air advocacy groups around here? It's amazing that local politicians don't do more to address the problem. On the bright side for me, it's job security. posted by
queetstatoosh
on Aug 15, 2007 at 07:01 AM
My ancestors used to let fires burn every now and then (even started them) to clear out the underbrush. Since our venerable Forest Service has done such a good job keeping them "tamped down" when we have fires anywhere in the US now they will invariably be catastrophic. Again man trying to manage the environment. The Forest SErvice managers decades ago were just as adamant about prevention of forest fires as are the global warmists of today. Past is prologue. posted by
TSM
on Aug 15, 2007 at 08:47 AM
The Forest SErvice managers decades ago were just as adamant about prevention of forest fires as are the global warmists of today Makes sense considering forest fires are a contributor to global warming and global warming contributes to forest fires. http://www.csmonitor.com/20... http://environment.about.co...
posted by
Mom2CandC
on Aug 15, 2007 at 08:54 AM
Quest, regarding your question as far as local air quality 'watch dog' type groups....if anyone knows of one - let ME know! I have searched in vain to find anything other than the national American Lung Association and their group that is trying to work through legislature for better air for everyone....not much locally though, at least not that I have been able to find in my search. I began my search when both of my boys were diagnosed with "intermittent asthma" that progressively got worse.....my oldest has improved greatly since his tonsils and adenoids were removed in March this year....now that he can breathe well and at least get the garbage out of his airway every day when he needs to (this was something he couldn't do before and we ALWAYS would end up with bronchitis and an antibiotic). My youngest is still in the midst of a struggle. We have gone the round with antibiotics, Albuterol (which I am so thankful he is off now!), and finally have found relief with Pulmicort - but this is a steroid that is not recommended for long term use - according to the pediatrician....we have been lucky (until the fires brought this double-whammy of bad air quality and particulate matter in the air). Yesterday, we stayed inside all day. Today, I will have to go grocery shopping and run a few errands. I am already anticipating issues....as everyone has had allergy issues, coughing and our (mine and my youngest) night last night was restless due to his spending 5 or so minutes outside greeting dad when he came home from a day of overtime....Our only hope is that the breathing treatment will continue to fend off the worst of the asthma and help him to continue to breathe - otherwise, we will be off to the doctor for a new option......
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We had a fire last year (tatoosh) that started in BC and crept over the border. We never thought it would affect us but it finally did. You cannot see it too well in picture but there was ash in the air for a good week here.As with most fires, it was ultimately good for the environment.