GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — There is an Air Quality Advisory in effect for the entire state until 11 p.m. Friday.
At times, the air quality will reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category. It means those with respiratory issues should reduce or avoid long periods of time outside.
Weather conditions combined with smoke from Canadian wildfires are to blame.
“Most of the time it’s going to be affecting people who already have some sort of respiratory disease or illness,” said Dr. Rory Fry, family medicine physician with Prevea Health.
Outagamie County’s air quality index was considered to be moderate on Thursday, with the numbers ranging from 67 to 88 as of mid-afternoon.
“When it gets to 150, that’s when it starts to get a little iffy, anything over 200, we’re supposed to report that to Major League Baseball and have that discussion,” said Rob Zerjav, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Air quality is considered acceptable, but there still could be a risk for those extremely sensitive to air pollution.
“We did have a call earlier this week with Major League Baseball just to talk about it,” said Zerjav. “There were some issues in New York and out east with some of the baseball games.”
Although, Zerjav says the team feels good about where the index is at for home games this weekend.
“No issues so far,” said Zerjav.
The air quality is expected reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category at times, meaning those with lung diseases, like asthma, and chronic allergies, should reduce or avoid prolonged outdoor activity.
“Some people may just notice they’re a little bit more fatigue than normal,” said Fry.
Fry says shortness of breath and cough are two of the most common symptoms when air quality isn’t the best.
“Maybe with even some wheezing and depending on the person, they may have more sputum or phlegm production with their cough,” said Fry.
Fry says Prevea has been seeing more respiratory complaints over the last couple of weeks.
“And it’s even just coming up just in conversation too, just people saying, ‘oh, my allergies have been really flared up lately,’” said Fry.
Dr. Abby Smolcich, a pediatrician with ThedaCare, agrees.
“Not necessarily with severe respiratory issues, but more nasal congestion, runny nose,” said Smolcich.
She says if you do plan on enjoying the weather outside while an air quality alert is in place, you can take precautions.
“Go outside in the earlier parts of the day or later part of the evening time, sometimes that mid-late morning, early afternoon time when the sun is kind of highest in the sky, it can be harder times for people,” said Smolcich.
Plus, you can still even enjoy a baseball game.
“We have a beautiful club space upstairs, climate controlled,” said Zerjav. “Fans, yeah if they’re out, and they just want to get out the heat or from an air quality stand point, we do have those spaces that gets you out and kind of refreshed.”
