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Washington State Department of Social & Health Services
Office of the Deaf and

Hard of Hearing?




*August 21,? 2023*




"*Image description*: Top:?""blue?background. Left: DSHS logo; right: Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Bottom: green background. Left: Date?"

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"Serving the Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf Disabled, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Speech Disabled Community"

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Air Quality Alert [ [link removed] ]

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO [ [link removed] ]

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Sharing on behalf of the Department of Health.

*For immediate release:* August 17, 2023? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

*Contact:* DOH Communications <[email protected]>

*Wildfire smoke is causing unhealthy air conditions for much of the state*

"Air Quality Alerts issued through Monday for more than a dozen counties and Tribal Nations"

*OLYMPIA* ? More than half our state is breathing in unhealthy air because of wildfires in Washington and Canada. Air Quality Alerts [ [link removed] ] are issued through Monday morning for many Central and Eastern counties and Tribal Nations. Smoke is also expected in Western Washington this weekend.

When air is unhealthy, everyone should take steps to protect themselves. Track air quality levels on the Washington Smoke Information [ [link removed] ] website and follow related health recommendations [ [link removed] ]. Stay inside with cleaner indoor air by:


* Closing windows and doors unless temperatures inside get too hot.
* Filtering indoor air by using an HVAC system, HEPA portable air cleaner, or DIY box fan filter.
* Not adding to indoor air pollution, such as smoking or burning candles indoors.
* Setting air conditioning units to recirculate.

If you must be outside, limit how long you?re outside and how intense the activity is. If you have to be outside for long periods of time you can also wear a properly fitted, NIOSH-approved particulate respirator, such as an N95 mask. It?s also important to check on elderly loved ones and neighbors and keep pets inside [ [link removed] ].

?It wasn't a matter of if, but when smoke would hit,? said Kaitlyn Kelly, Air Quality Policy Specialist. ?Wildfire smoke season is here in Washington, which means we need to be proactive about taking steps to protect ourselves.?

Smoke often affects people with pre-existing conditions [ [link removed] ] the most. Minor symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. More serious symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. Wildfire smoke can lead to hospitalization and death. Seek medical attention if your symptoms are severe.

For more information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, visit the Washington State Department of Health?s?Smoke From Fires [ [link removed] ] webpage.

The DOH?website [ [link removed] ] is your source for "a healthy dose of information".?

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Visit the DOH Newsroom [ [link removed] ]?for all news releases.? Subscribe to get news releases in Spanish [ [link removed] ].?You will continue to receive the English version. Washington State Department of Health [ [link removed] ] is your source for a healthy dose of information.?





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*Who We Are*
The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) provides programs and services for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Speech Disabled individuals, their families, and service providers in Washington State. ODHH works to ensure that services and resources are accessible and inclusive to all Washingtonians.

*What We Do*
ODHH operates under the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and is entrusted with fulfilling its legislative mandate outlined in RCW 43.20A.725.
ODHH?s work includes:

Advocacy: ODHH advocates for the rights, interests, and needs of individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf Disabled, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Speech Disabled. The Office works to eliminate communication barriers and promote equal opportunities in various service areas, including training, consultation, contract management, information and referrals, and resources to promote communication equity.

Coordination: ODHH is a centralized resource. The Office collaborates with governmental, business, and community stakeholders to develop and implement policies, programs, and initiatives that address and ensure that state services and resources are accessible and inclusive to all Washingtonians.

*Contact Us!*
800-422-7930 Voice
360-339-7382 VP
[email protected]




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