The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General of Public Health of the Canary Health Service (SCS), and given the forecast of calima for the coming days, recommends that the population take precautions such as avoiding prolonged exposure to outdoor air, keeping windows closed, and not engaging in physical exertion outdoors.
Prediction models from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and the CESIC predict the transport of African air masses and estimate that surface dust concentrations could be in the range of 5-200 μg/m3 for the Canary Islands.
With this data, the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Government of the Canary Islands has issued a pre-alert for calima, which is already causing an alteration in air quality classified as regular to unfavorable in some areas of the archipelago, due to the high level of particulate matter suspended in the ambient air which exceeds the daily limit value for health protection established at 50 µg/m3.
This is not an episode of high intensity, according to forecasts, however, it is expected to continue throughout the week with variable intensity depending on the islands.
Given this forecast, the Directorate General of Public Health of the SCS recalls the main preventive measures necessary to reduce the effects on the general and sensitive population.
How does the calima episode affect people?
High concentrations of suspended dust (particles) can cause mild symptoms such as irritation of the nose, throat, itchy eyes, or cough, but also more serious ones, triggering asthmatic crises in people suffering from this disease or aggravating and worsening the clinical condition and symptomatology of patients with respiratory or heart diseases. The probability of respiratory infections of the upper or lower tract also increases.
Therefore, an increase in the number of emergencies attended in hospitals and health centers can be observed, even during the five days following the end of the episode.
Who are the most sensitive people?
Although all people are at risk of developing symptoms from exposure to calima, those most vulnerable to the effects of high particle concentration in the ambient air during these episodes are:
– Minors.
– Elderly.
– People with pre-existing chronic diseases, mainly:
Respiratory: asthma, chronic bronchitis or fibrosis.
Cardiac: ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, poorly controlled arterial hypertension, people on oxygen therapy
Situations of immunosuppression
– Pregnant women.
– People who work outdoors.
– Smokers.
In this episode of prolonged duration, although without high intensity, the recommendations are mainly aimed at this population especially vulnerable to episodes, to whom it is recommended: review rescue medication, limit outdoor physical exercise and observe symptoms such as cough, wheezing, dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations).
General recommendations
The Directorate General of Public Health makes a special call to exercise extreme caution and follow the following recommendations to avoid the described complications:
– Avoid carrying out activities that involve physical exertion outdoors.
– Stay at home or indoors as much as possible and remain as isolated as possible from the outside air by closing windows.
– Clean surfaces with dust using damp cloths.
– Stay in humid environments and hydrate, as well as continue with usual medication.
– Do not do physical exercises outdoors.
– Pay attention to the information and forecasts provided by the authorities.
– In case of worsening respiratory symptoms, call 1-1-2.
Finally, it is recommended to pay attention to the information and forecasts provided by the authorities regarding air quality, especially if you belong to one of the mentioned vulnerable groups. To this end, you can also consult the "Air Quality Index (AQI)", estimated for each area of the Autonomous Community, at the following address of the Air Quality Control and Monitoring Network of the Government of the Canary Islands: Air Quality Index.
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