Residents are dawning surgical mask to help protect them from the particles in the air during the air advisory, however, they aren’t as effective as people think.
Wearing a surgical mask isn’t harmful but doesn’t provide the same protection as others, because there is no proper filter or tight seal around the nose.
Northern Health’s Dr. Andrew Gray says it can be effective with larger chunks of ash, but those aren’t usually the main problems during an air advisory.
“The aspect of the smoke that does most of the harm or causes most of the symptoms is microscopic particles that are not visible to the naked eye. Those can get into around the sides of a regular dust mask.”
Those who have heart or lung problems should purchase an N-95 mask that is designed to keep out fine particles.
“People who have heart or lung problems and have to go outside and into the smoke, we don’t recommend that but if you have to, those respirators can provide protection in that context. We don’t recommend a mask as your first line of defense.
The north has been under an air advisory for roughly three weeks now due to the wildfires.