Air quality and the fires in Canada

[macmars45]

Jun 29, 2023 9:24:20 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

At least we can use these KN95s I ordered that came in the day after the worst air quality last time.

I just ordered some N95s from ProjectN95 for when the smoke comes to WA state.

[wildrice]

I just went out to grab lunch and it's definitely hazy and smelly here. It actually seems worse today than it was 3 weeks ago, but that might just be my perception. Thankfully I had a KN95 with me and that helped.

I remember I was getting dizzy spells within a few days of this happening last time and never really figured out why - I am curious if it will happen again or if that was just coincidence.

[Velar Fricative]

Also, as soon as it started getting hazy I immediately saw conspiracy theories in local FB groups:

1) The fire is coming from "the elite" and "the government."
2) It's just haze, there are no fires.
3) "They" are back to control us. (No, they never answer who "they" are.)

[wawa]

Just got back from an car+metro+walking a few blocks round trip journey and my eyes are BURNING. ugh.

[Vespasia]

I work in a hospital and it's like we're living in the upside down. Instead of putting masks on to enter, I see people putting them on to walk out of the building.

wildrice I took a picture looking towards downtown from one of the higher floors today. It looks way worse than a few weeks ago. 

[pixy0stix]

Jun 29, 2023 13:22:27 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, as soon as it started getting hazy I immediately saw conspiracy theories in local FB groups:

1) The fire is coming from "the elite" and "the government."
2) It's just haze, there are no fires.
3) "They" are back to control us. (No, they never answer who "they" are.)

We've established that it's the Canadians, who we are welcoming with open arms. LOL!

[lilac05]

Jun 28, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Not having clean air to breathe can really fuck with your mental health. So be kind to yourself if you’re feeling blah this week. (This isn’t in response to any post here, just my own personal experience. And what the data shows. If this is you, you’re not alone.)

The physical effects can certainly wear on you (itchy eyes and throat, headaches) but I find my anxiety ramps up with the AQI too.

Thank you for this. Because we were traveling, we’ve been over 200 every day since Saturday. It’s been a really rough week for me…and this connection doesn’t surprise me.

Earlier, we had storms roll through south of us, so we must have had clouds above the smoke. It was so dark and creepy. There was no wind and it’s super humid (and yet my throat is dry). All of the cars lights were on because it was so dark at noon. It felt straight out of a scary movie.

[spindle92]

Jun 29, 2023 13:22:27 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, as soon as it started getting hazy I immediately saw conspiracy theories in local FB groups:

1) The fire is coming from "the elite" and "the government."
2) It's just haze, there are no fires.
3) "They" are back to control us. (No, they never answer who "they" are.)

I love how the crazies always refer to "they or them" but when you ask who they are - radio silence.

[eddy]

I get and instant headache every-time I walk out.

@@@

We just had to cancel attending my son’s doubleheader baseball game tonight. We are still in unhealthy zone. He is 11 and this rec league. I am lived this is how the season will end. So many choices could have been made that didn’t involve 4 hours of baseball tonight just so we can have a championship game. 🙄Sadly half the team isn’t going to show up. All around a sucky situation that could have been avoided with better decision making.

[rubytue]

Today is the first day in I don’t know how long I didn’t judge H for playing video games all day. It’s even a bit smelly inside (yay old, leaky homes 🙄). Last time it was this bad, he ended up with a migraine, so I was fine with him staying inside and taking it easy. We were thisclose to purple earlier today, but it’s backing down now.

[litebright]

Jun 28, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Not having clean air to breathe can really fuck with your mental health. So be kind to yourself if you’re feeling blah this week. (This isn’t in response to any post here, just my own personal experience. And what the data shows. If this is you, you’re not alone.)

The physical effects can certainly wear on you (itchy eyes and throat, headaches) but I find my anxiety ramps up with the AQI too.

It really sucks and feels so limiting. It's summer, and to not be able to go outside and use our pool, exercise outdoors, walk the dog without a mask -- like sheesh, during the worst of covid those things pretty much became our lifesavers, and to have those suddenly removed makes me feel kind of trapped. 

[timorousbeastie]

Jun 29, 2023 13:22:27 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, as soon as it started getting hazy I immediately saw conspiracy theories in local FB groups:

1) The fire is coming from "the elite" and "the government."
2) It's just haze, there are no fires.
3) "They" are back to control us. (No, they never answer who "they" are.)

The leading theory on my local group is that the US government created COVID (despite their previous thinking that COVID is a hoax) to destroy our sense of smell, all so that we wouldn’t be able to smell the chemicals in the smoke from the fire they started. What the chemicals in the smoke are for is up for debate - could be to kill us all, could be mind control. But one way or another, it’s all Biden’s fault.

[jlt19]

Jun 28, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Not having clean air to breathe can really fuck with your mental health. So be kind to yourself if you’re feeling blah this week. (This isn’t in response to any post here, just my own personal experience. And what the data shows. If this is you, you’re not alone.)

The physical effects can certainly wear on you (itchy eyes and throat, headaches) but I find my anxiety ramps up with the AQI too.

This makes sense. I just started seeing a new therapist and she’s kind of all over the place (she’s talked more in each of our 3 sessions than I have combined). But she also kind of makes it make sense.

She was telling me how (normal/good) anxiety happens when our fight/flight/freeze nerves are “pinged”. This is why one coping skill is deep breathing, b/c tells our brain that all is ok, anxiety can go back to a normal level.

So if you’re not breathing clean air, it makes sense that your brain is going to start to get anxious because it’s in the fight/flight/freeze mode and it’s not getting any “relief”.

[loira]

Jun 29, 2023 15:32:38 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

Jun 29, 2023 13:22:27 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, as soon as it started getting hazy I immediately saw conspiracy theories in local FB groups:

1) The fire is coming from "the elite" and "the government."
2) It's just haze, there are no fires.
3) "They" are back to control us. (No, they never answer who "they" are.)

I love how the crazies always refer to "they or them" but when you ask who they are - radio silence.

Mission Canada Goose is top secret, that's why. I've said too much. This thread will have to self destruct.

[karinothing]

@@@

So yesterday I was a bit worried because DS is at sleep away came and they have no place to escape the smoke/bad air. Yesterday has been the only day they didn't' post pictures so now i am a bit curious what the heck they did yesterday. Hopefully the kids still had fun. I know he at least went to the camp store and bought stuff lol.

[wanderingback]

karinothing please @@@ your post. Thanks!

We’re still visiting my mom this weekend, air quality seems bad here and there, just not as bad as last round. Even if we just stay inside until Tuesday will be a nice change of scenery and to have my mom’s cooking …and wine selection.

[karinothing]

Jun 30, 2023 6:09:56 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

karinothing please @@@ your post. Thanks!

We’re still visiting my mom this weekend, air quality seems bad here and there, just not as bad as last round. Even if we just stay inside until Tuesday will be a nice change of scenery and to have my mom’s cooking …and wine selection.

Sorry, I forgot since there were other camp stuff in the post Fixed. 

[rubytue]

FYI, July 4th will make it all worse wapo.st/3CXaRDL

[msmerymac]

🙃