Ways to protect yourself from Haze

How Singapore Haze affect your Health and How You Can Protect Yourself:

Do you know which PSI level is considered too unhealthy to go outdoors and at which point do you need to wear a mask? 

And this a guide from Asian Parents for your Children:

Unfortunately Haze worsened on 24th Sept 2015 Evening to Night time, PSI hit to 300+ and Singapore's Primary and Secondary schools are announced to be closed on Friday (25th Sept). Good for the Kids, having their rest day at home!

How does Haze Hurt our Body? 

You're recommended to wear a Mask when PSI level exceed 150 and if you are prolonged outdoor.

People with respiratory ailments are advised to consult their doctors before using respirator masks such as the N95 mask. These masks are designed to keep out fine particles in the air. Surgical and paper masks do not provide the same amount of protection from the pollutants in the air. You can buy respirator masks from commercial pharmacies as well as SingHealth/ National Health Group polyclinics. Try to consult with the pharmacists in attendance for advice on choosing the right mask and the proper instructions to use them. If you are good with N95 Mask, this is a guide on how you can wear your Mask properly to protect yourself from Haze.

PROTECT FROM HAZE

Ways to protect yourself from the haze

Take the following steps to protect yourself from the haze in Singapore:

• Stay indoors with closed doors as far as possible.
• Roll up the windows of your car if you are driving.
• Use an air-conditioner in your home to help remove pollutants.
• Use an air ionizer or air purifier to catch very small particles.
• Drink more water than usual – this helps the kidneys flush out any toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs.
• Cut down on coffee and alcohol – these promote fluid loss and leach nutrients from the body.
• Build up your immunity with foods rich in vitamin C (oranges, guava, strawberries), vitamin E (nuts and seeds) and omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish). Prevent fried, oily & unhealthy food.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you go out for prolonged periods.
  
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  ASTHMA
  
  
  The most common trigger affected by Haze in Singapore is Asthma.
  
  It's easy to trigger Asthmatic in this few recent days as PSI hits more than 200. If you encounter pollen, mold, or dust mites irritates your lungs and asthma starts to triggers. You'll most probably have difficulty in breathing occurs because the bronchi, the tubes that allow oxygen into your lungs, go into spasms. Accompanying them may be coughing and tightness in the chest. The spasms trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation and the production of airway-clogging mucus.
• 
  
• For severe asthma attacks—the kind of tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath that can be really frightening, quick action is to use an inhaler containing a drug such as albuterol. If that’s what you use, and it works, keep it with you. And always have your doctor’s phone number near at hand in case of severe attacks. But for non-emergencies, you’ll want to figure out ways to help yourself breathe easy.
  When an Asthma attacks, stay calm. Close your eyes and use your hand to surround your nose & mouth, as you inhale. Repeat this exercise twice more, then open your eyes. 

  Natural remedies for asthma

  • Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have been using the herb ginkgo to treat asthma for centuries. If you want to try it, take 60 to 250 milligrams of standardized ginkgo extract once a day. One recent study suggests that this herb interferes with a protein in the blood that contributes to airway spasms.
  • Magnesium may make you feel better. Much research suggests that magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of the upper respiratory tract. The recommended dose is 600 milligrams a day.

Prevent asthma attacks by avoiding triggers

• Don’t smoke, and stay away from people who do. Cigarette smoke irritates the airways.

Keep Yourself Updated On The Haze

You can refer to the NEA's website (www.nea.gov.sg/psi) for hourly updates of 3-hr PSI and the relevant health advisory. Other ways to access the 3-hr PSI updates are at:

• www.weather.gov.sg
• NEA Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800 2255 632)
• MSD Weather Hotline: 65427788
• Weather@SG (weather.nea.gov.sg)
• twitter.com/neasg

Index Value	Descriptor	General Health Effects	Health Advisory
Up to 50	Good	Little or no risk	None for the general population
51 to 100	Moderate	Some pollutants may be a moderate health concern for a small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
101 to 200	Unhealthy	Mild aggravation of symptoms among susceptible persons i.e. those with underlying conditions such as chronic heart or lung ailments; transient symptoms of irritation e.g. eye irritation, sneezing or coughing in some of the healthy population.	Elderly, children and people with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity. The general population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity.
201 to 300	Very Unhealthy	Significant aggravation of symptoms, decreased tolerance and premature mortality in persons with heart or lung disease ; more widespread symptoms of transient irritation in the healthy population.	Elderly, children and persons with existing heart or lung disease should stay indoors and reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity. The general population should avoid vigorous outdoor activity and prolonged exertion.
301 to 400	Hazardous	Early onset of certain diseases in addition to significant aggravation of symptoms and premature mortality in susceptible persons; and decreased exercise tolerance in healthy persons.	Children, elderly and persons with existing diseases should stay indoors and avoid outdoor activity. The general population should avoid all unnecessary outdoor activity.
Over 400	Very Hazardous	Index value above 400 may be life-threatening to ill and elderly persons. Healthy people may experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity.	Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion. Children, elderly and persons with existing diseases should remain indoors, keeping the windows and doors closed and avoiding physical exertion as far as possible.

Table Source from: Blissair.com

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♥ Thanks for reading as always!
THANK YOU AH! 谢谢! Terima Kasih! ありがとうございました!