PGAQ #67 by Vic Steblin, Dec 22, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

Once in a while the newspapers report on how smoke inhalation leads to serious injury or death. These extreme situations usually occur during tragic house fires and the victims include all ages, pets and even firefighters. High enough concentrations of smoke will kill.

High concentrations of particulate also set off the first alarm bells over air pollution in December of 1952 in London, England when a heavy fog plus coal heating produced smog that killed thousands.

An internet search on “smoke inhalation” produces lots of information, symptoms and advice on how to recognize and treat this condition. Extreme smoke obviously produces immediate acute problems but I know that similar end results occur when smaller doses of smoke are distributed over longer periods of time.

We should try harder to prevent house fires and we should try harder to prevent the slow steady danger posed by any smoke in the air. Burning wood for heat releases unacceptable smoke particles and should be banned in populated areas.