Open Burning, Smoke Exposure and Child Health
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Transcript of Open Burning, Smoke Exposure and Child Health
@CaribTots2Teens
Child Health and Wellness Centre
facebook.com/jamentrust
As far as possible, keep your children indoors.
Keep the windows and doors closed. Hang a
damp towel in front of areas that cannot be
fully closed off .
It is ok to use fans to circulate the air inside.
If travelling, keep the vehicle windows closed
and the air-conditioning on “recirculation”
mode. Do not pull in air from outside.
AIR PURIFIERS: high - efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can be
used to reduce air contamination.
HUMIDIFIERS: Are not as effective as air purifiers for reducing
contamination.
Will help to reduce particulate contamination
MUST be cleaned regularly to prevent mould and other harmful contaminants being circulated if they accumulate within the machine.
Minimize the amount of time spent outdoors.
A well-fitting mask is recommended, the fit is
more important that the type of fibre used.
If you have no masks, then a damp
handkerchief or rag will do.
Minimize exercise or exertion, which can
increase the rate of breathing.
A wide variety of toxins may be spread by
smoke deposits on the ground. These toxins
settle into the dirt and ultimately work their way
from plants to animals in our food chain.
For now, wash all fruits and vegetables
thoroughly with clean running water before
consumption. Cooking will NOT eliminate the
toxins.
Numerous toxins contained in the smoke can lead to Dizziness Headaches Nausea Skin rashes Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular
heartbeats)
Flushing your circulatory system will help to quickly eliminate toxins from the blood stream and kidneys.
Encourage your child to drink
8-10 oz of water at least 6 times a day if they must be exposed to the smoky environment.
If your child is known to have respiratory allergies,
sinusitis or other environmental sensitivities: start oral
antihistamines (such as DPH®, Histal® Zyrtec®,
Claritin® and Aerius®) as a preventative measure.
All medications are prescribed according to your child's weight
and severity of illness.
If you have ANY doubt about the appropriate dose needed,
please contact your doctor before administering any
medication.
If your child is a known asthmatic: Go ahead and
give preventative doses of inhalational steroid as
has been prescribed for your child in the past.
Inhalational medications (pumps) such as Seretide®
and Flixotide® contain steroids.
All medications are prescribed according to your child's weight
and severity of illness.
If you have ANY doubt about the
appropriate dose needed, please
contact your doctor
before administering
any medication.
Dioxin is a known carcinogen found in certain plastics and other man-made materials.
Recently there have been many reports circulating the risk of having plastic water bottles heat up the in car, transferring dioxin from the plastic to the water, however...
The largest quantified source of dioxin exposure comes from open burning of garbage – from backyard barrels to major fires such as occur at the city dumps.
Dioxin is a known carcinogen
Dioxin may also affect the developing nervous
system
A child’s brain is actively developing in the first 5
years of life
The greatest risk of neurological injury caused by
dioxin is to unborn babies and children under 5
years old.
Dioxin can also cause suppression of the
immune system and
Disruption of the hormonal system.
Reduce | Reuse | Recycle
The less rubbish there is to “manage” the less the
risk of fires.
Start a compost heap for your organic waste.
Never burn garbage in your own backyard, use
the municipal disposal system. Backyard burning
is a DANGEROUS practice, see this link for more
information.
Reduce | Reuse | Recycle
Teach your children to be aware of
their own contribution to waste creation
and recycling.
This is the only way to change the future.
1. Dr. Carolin Thomas- BoydConsultant Paediatrician, Winchester Paediatrics
Winchester Surgical and Medical Institute
3a Winchester Road, Kingston 10
2. Photo credits1. Slide 1: Riverton burning - Jamaica Environmental Trust
www.facebook.com/jamentrust March 13, 2015
2. Slide 4: www.envirosafetyproducts.com
3. Slide 7: www.webmd.boots.com
3. Links1. http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/06/why-we-should-
avoid-backyard-trash-burning/
2. https://www.ec.gc.ca/gdd-mw/
STRONG MIND. HEALTHY BODY. SOLID FOUNDATION
www.caribtots2teens.com
The information in this article is NOT intended to replace
medical advice from a licensed physician.