00:00The frequency and intensity of forest fires is increasing across the country.
00:16The smoke from forest fires contains a mixture of gas, particles and water vapour.
00:20Particles are the main risk to health and can have an impact on humans, even at very low levels.
00:27The smoke from forest fires can spread over hundreds, even thousands of kilometres from a fire zone.
00:34As a result, the smoke can have an impact on air quality in the close and distant areas of forest fires.
00:40The exposure to the smoke from forest fires can cause symptoms,
00:44ranging from mild irritation of the eyes and throat to chest pain or a strong cough.
00:49Check your air quality.
00:51If you feel symptoms, reduce or stop any intense outdoor activity.
00:57If an opinion on air quality is issued, cancel your outdoor activities and go indoors.
01:03When you are indoors, keep the windows and doors closed as much as possible.
01:08In the event of high heat and poor air quality, the priority is to stay cool.
01:14It is important to clean or regularly change the air filters in your ventilation system.
01:19Consider investing in one or more certified portable air purifiers.
01:23Install carbon monoxide detectors and test them regularly.
01:28Some groups are more at risk than others,
01:30including very young children, elderly people and people with a disease.
01:35If this is your case or that of your family,
01:37ask a health professional to develop a plan to deal with the smoke from a forest fire.
01:42For more information and advice on how to prepare
01:46and protect yourself against the smoke from forest fires,
01:49visit canada.ca.smokeforestfires.
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