Health advice for residents affected by Saddleworth Moor fire
Advice for Saddleworth Moor fire extended to Winter Hill.
Latest update
Air quality update
The fire service and partners are making good progress with the moorland fires and the air quality is improving. We hope you can enjoy your usual outdoor activities in areas where there is no visible smoke, but whilst firefighting continues and weather conditions vary there may be further periods of poor air quality.
Remember to minimise your exposure to any smoke and keep your medication with you.
Previous update
2 July 2018
Public Health England (PHE) has extended its advice for residents affected by fire at Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester to include residents in Lancashire affected from the Winter Hill blaze.
Residents are also advised, when the smoke has moved away and is no longer visible, to think about opening doors and windows to allow the house to cool down. If the direction of the wind changes and smoke returns to the area, remember to return inside and shut windows and doors again until the smoke has visibly cleared.
28 June 2018
With the fire at Saddleworth Moor still alight, PHE has issued health advice to people affected by the smoke.
Residents in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors, keep their doors and windows closed and tune in to their local radio station for advice and information.
Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed and switch air conditioning systems to recycle or recirculate air. If people need to be outdoors, they should try to avoid areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.
Smoke can irritate air passages, the skin and the eyes, leading to coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. It can also worsen existing problems such as asthma so people should carry their inhaler with them at all times.
Anyone concerned about their symptoms should contact their GP or NHS 111.
In addition, PHE appreciates the hot weather is having a combined effect and also recommends:
- wearing lighter clothing
- keeping hydrated with cool drinks
- limiting activities that might contribute to emissions within the home, such as cooking
- setting any air conditioning to recirculate mode
- limiting the time you spend outdoors and avoiding strenuous physical activity
- once the smoke has moved away, consider opening doors and windows to allow the house to cool down.
Image courtesy of the University of Dundee.
Last updated 16 July 2018 + show all updates
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Added latest air quality update.
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Updated to extend advice to Winter Hill.
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First published.