Long Beach: City Health Officer Advises Residents of Windblown Dust and Ash Concerns
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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach City Health Officer Advises Caution as Strong Winds and Ash Advisory Continue

Long Beach, CA - As the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) extends its windblown dust and ash advisory, Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis is urging residents to exercise caution. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Red Flag Warnings and High Wind Warnings for the region, with strong Santa Ana winds expected through the evening of January 15th.

While mild winds are expected locally, high winds in other areas may disperse ash from the fire impact zones in Los Angeles County. This could potentially affect areas to the south and west, including Long Beach.

Ash particles, a result of household fires, may contain toxic materials when compared to common wood ash from campfires. These particles can also impact Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, making the air unhealthy for sensitive groups such as those with preexisting health conditions like respiratory or heart disease, pregnant women, older adults, and children.

In light of these conditions, members of the Long Beach community are advised to take precautions and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in areas directly impacted by smoke, ash or windblown dust. The following measures are recommended:

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- Avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion.

- Stay indoors, especially for those with respiratory or heart disease, pregnant women, older adults and children.

- Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter.

- Use an air conditioner or air purifier if available.

- Change standard air-conditioner filters to medium or high-efficiency filters. For wall-unit or window-unit air conditioners, set them to "recirculate."

- Avoid using swamp coolers or whole-house fans to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

- Refrain from using leaf blowers. Instead, hose down surfaces with a gentle stream of water or use a shop vacuum. If using a broom, lightly dampen the ground beforehand to minimize resuspending any ash.

- Avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces, to prevent worsening the health effects of wildfire smoke.

- If working around ash, wear proper personal protective equipment such as long sleeve shirts, pants, gloves and safety glasses. A well-fitting respirator like an N-95 may provide some protection. If ash gets on the skin, wash it off immediately.

The City of Long Beach is continuously providing updates on air quality related to the multiple fires in Los Angeles County. For information on fire activity maps, evacuation notices, air quality updates and more, residents can visit longbeach.gov/emergency.

Media inquiries can be directed to the City of Long Beach Joint Information Center at 562.570.NEWS or JIC@longbeach.gov.

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