The National Weather Service has issued a smoke advisory for Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties.
Reports indicate smoke is coming from a wildfire north of Walthourville in Liberty County and the Okefenokee Swamp wildfire.
Health department officials in those counties are reminding the public that precautions should be taken, especially for those suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions:
•Stay inside with windows and doors shut.
•Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car.
•If you do not have an air conditioner and if it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.
•Avoid cooking and vacuuming, which can increase pollutants indoors.
•Avoid physical exertion.
•Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan.
• Keep at least a five-day supply of medication on hand.
•Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue. This is important for not only for people with chronic lung or heart disease, but also for individuals who have not been previously diagnosed with such illnesses.
Smoke can “unmask” or produce symptoms of such diseases.
•Keep airways moist by drinking lots of water. Breathing through a warm, wet washcloth can also help relieve dryness.
• Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce breathing problems. A HEPA filter may reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air.