Well this is a first for me in Wisconsin;
Hazardous air quality index (AQI over 300) from forest fire smoke originating in northern Minnesota and Southwest Ontario Canada.
Yes, it has been bad enough to cancel a number of outdoor activities in the Green Bay area.
For many Autopians in California or Florida who deal with wildfires every year, you are probably laughing at me and saying, "Welcome to our world!"
This is the third year in a row we in Wisconsin have been dealing with summer smoke from Canada filtering down to the upper Midwest. And yes, it bothers me with mild asthma to prevent me from going outside and doing my normal summer outdoor activities, like washing and cleaning vehicles or cutting lawns. This year, though, is by far the worst AQI ever.
We have been advised by local government and hospital health departments to wear N95 masks if venturing outside for any length of time. It is very hard for me to breath through them while doing those fore-mentioned activities. The standard COVID masks are not good enough to filter out the very fine ash particulate making up this smoke, but many individuals are wearing them anyway, despite warnings from health officials of there ineffectiveness. So this is kind of a Captain Obvious lament and Public Service Announcement thread topic.
I have to laugh about this because one news outlet made the comment that being outside for four hours in this smoke is equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day. They obviously NEVER spent a few hours in a Wisconsin bar in the days before indoor personal smoking was banned in public bars, restaurants, and business. Yes, it was that bad. Ask any long- time bar tender or owner about second-hand smoke; many have lung problems even if they never smoked.
Let me know if you are dealing with smoke in your area and how you are coping with it.
Hazardous air quality index (AQI over 300) from forest fire smoke originating in northern Minnesota and Southwest Ontario Canada.
Yes, it has been bad enough to cancel a number of outdoor activities in the Green Bay area.
For many Autopians in California or Florida who deal with wildfires every year, you are probably laughing at me and saying, "Welcome to our world!"
This is the third year in a row we in Wisconsin have been dealing with summer smoke from Canada filtering down to the upper Midwest. And yes, it bothers me with mild asthma to prevent me from going outside and doing my normal summer outdoor activities, like washing and cleaning vehicles or cutting lawns. This year, though, is by far the worst AQI ever.
We have been advised by local government and hospital health departments to wear N95 masks if venturing outside for any length of time. It is very hard for me to breath through them while doing those fore-mentioned activities. The standard COVID masks are not good enough to filter out the very fine ash particulate making up this smoke, but many individuals are wearing them anyway, despite warnings from health officials of there ineffectiveness. So this is kind of a Captain Obvious lament and Public Service Announcement thread topic.
I have to laugh about this because one news outlet made the comment that being outside for four hours in this smoke is equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day. They obviously NEVER spent a few hours in a Wisconsin bar in the days before indoor personal smoking was banned in public bars, restaurants, and business. Yes, it was that bad. Ask any long- time bar tender or owner about second-hand smoke; many have lung problems even if they never smoked.
Let me know if you are dealing with smoke in your area and how you are coping with it.
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