Air quality: updates and health recommendations
What is Air Quality?
Air quality is a measure of how safe the air is to breathe. Smoke from wildfires or smog from pollution decreases air quality and can be dangerous to our health.
Adjust your activities during high levels of air pollution to protect yourselves and your family.
What to Do When the Air is Smoky?
- Take it easy outdoors — Everyone should avoid running or doing heavy activities outdoors when the air is smoky, but extra care should be taken for babies and young children, older adults, people with breathing or heart problems, and those who work outside.
- Keep smoke out — Close all windows and doors. Use tape and plastic sheets to seal any gaps where smoke might come in. This helps keep your indoor air cleaner. If you can’t keep the smoke out of your home and AQHI is 7 or higher, go to your community’s dedicated clean-air space
- Clean the air inside — Use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter if you have one. You can also make one using a box fan and a filter.
- Wear a mask outside — If you must go outside for a long time, wear a well-fitted an N95 or KN95 mask. It blocks more smoke than a cloth mask.
- Watch your health — If you have coughing, trouble breathing, or chest pain, get medical help.
We encourage everyone to stay informed by checking local air quality updates through Environment Canada, PurpleAir or the WeatherCAN app.
If you or someone you know is in distress or would like to talk to someone, they can contact the Wîchihîwâuwin Helpline at 1-833-632-4357
The CBHSSJB acknowledges that this situation may be concerning for many, but encourages community members to support one another with care and compassion until conditions improve.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation in keeping our communities safe and healthy.
What is the Air Quality Health Index?
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a tool to help you understand what the air quality in your community means for your health. It uses a colour-coded scale from 1 to 10+ to show the level of health risk from air pollution. Sometimes, when air pollution levels are unusually high, the index may exceed 10. The higher the number, the greater the health risk and the more important it is to take precautions.
What do the numbers mean?
What to do if you have symptoms
Stop activity and stay indoors, make sure windows and doors are closed.
If you have asthma or another breathing condition, use your inhaler as needed.
Contact 811 (non-urgent) or the CMC if you continue to feel unwell or if your symptoms are severe.
Support
Info Santé 811
811 is a free and confidential telephone health consultation service available across Eeyou Istchee and Quebec. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A nurse at 811 will answer questions about non-urgent health issues.
Wiichihiiwaauwin (Mental Health) Helpline
Service available 24/7. Cree speakers and Elders are available upon request
QUÉBEC 511:
ROAD CONDITIONS AND CLOSURES
Find all the information you need to plan safe and efficient trips: road conditions, roadwork, and road closures. Get updated information from 511
Explore more
As wildfire burns through forests and grasslands, it produces dense smoke that can be a major source of toxic air pollutants.
The Cree Board of Health recommends you wear a mask in certain situations to protect yourself and people around you.
Learn how to build a purifier to improve indoor air quality during episodes of forest fire smoke.
Information on wildfires, evacuations, smoke, and air quality. Updated daily.
Actions you can take to protect yourself during wildfire season
Resources providing up-to-date information about wildfires, smoke, and travel advisories and closures.
There are many things to consider when you go home after a forest fire evacuation
SOPFEU
Fire Map
Purple Air
Map of Air Quality
