2023-06-28 00:24:47
Large-scale forest fires in northern Quebec produce plumes of smoke with fine particles that affect air quality.
According to an internal memo distributed Tuesday to managers and employees of the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, the DRSP [Direction régionale de santé publique] recommends staying indoors and distributing N95 masks to the targeted groups of vulnerable people below who will have to go outside […] : people with asthma; heart people; people with respiratory problems, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis; seniors and pregnant women.
This memo, signed by a head of public health programs, specifies where the masks will be distributed.
“A delivery is currently underway of N95 model 3M masks, individually wrapped units, to targeted settings in all CLSCs, CH HMRs and HSCOs. [cliniques externes ciblées], CHSLD, private CHSLD, RPA, HLM and NPO. »
— A quote from Memorandum from the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, June 27, 2023
It is requested to offer two N95 masks to vulnerable people, it adds.
Reached by telephone, Dr. Réal Barrette, family physician and medical director at the Center of Expertise in Chronic Diseases for the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, expects other institutions are following suit.
Given the episodes of poor air quality, we can expect an expanded distribution in Montreal of N95 masks to people who have to be exposed to smog, especially for vulnerable people, he explains.
Dr. Réal Barrette, family physician and medical director at the Center of Expertise in Chronic Diseases for the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
Photo : Radio-Canada
A meeting of public health authorities was held late Tuesday afternoon to discuss the file. A few establishments directed us to the Ministry of Health.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, Quebec had at the beginning of April 37 million N95 masks as well as 8 million KN95 masks.
Quebec spent $53 million in 2022-23 to buy N95 masks.
At the end of the afternoon on Tuesday, Environment Canada forecasts indicated that the air quality would remain acceptable until Thursday in southern Quebec.
Started 10 days ago
Establishments in Montreal, Montérégie and Gatineau have been announcing for more than a week now a targeted distribution of N95 masks due to the forest fires.
In connection with the forest fire situation, the CIUSSS […] makes N95 type protective masks available to companies and organizations in its territory which have employees who are required to work outside, we can read for 10 days on the sites of some health establishments in Montreal.
At the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, it is specified that we only accept orders for less than 25,000 masks. Requests above this number are directed to the MSSS.
During the pandemic, the wearing of the N95 respirator by workers proved to be an additional measure to reduce exposure to small aerosols, according to the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ).
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