Hoshiarpur : Keeping in mind the change in weather, Civil Surgeon Dr Pawan Kumar Shagotra issued an advisory on behalf of the Health Department Hoshiarpur and said that as the weather gets colder (September/October to February/March), the air quality starts deteriorating. The deteriorating air quality index increases the rate of illness and death among those who come in contact with it, especially vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, elderly, people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases etc.

The Civil Surgeon said that the risk of air pollution can be reduced by taking the following measures:-
• Avoid going to places with high air pollution to reduce exposure to air pollution.
• The consequences of increased levels of air pollution can be hazardous to health. Check the AQI before planning your outdoor activities for the day. To check AQI, check website: CPCB and some trusted mobile applications and through news or media.
• Avoid walking outside in the morning and late evening on days with bad to severe air pollution.
• Avoid jogging, running or other strenuous physical activities.
• Avoid opening external doors and windows in the morning and late evening.
• Ventilate rooms between 12 noon and 4 pm if necessary.
• If a person experiences difficulty in breathing, cough, chest discomfort or pain, dizziness, burning or redness in the eyes, consult the nearest doctor immediately.
• Do not burn any kind of wood, leaves, crop residues in the open environment as it worsens the air pollution.
• Avoid burning crackers.
• To reduce the harmful effects of air pollution, eat seasonal fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and drink enough water to stay hydrated.
• Patients with chronic respiratory or heart problems, pregnant women, young children and the elderly should be more careful and avoid exposure to polluted air.
• Use N95 or N99 masks if possible on days of poor to severe air pollution. If possible, use an air purifier to reduce the impact of pollution.
• Air conditioners in buildings and vehicles can use “re-circulating” mode to avoid exposure to outdoor polluted air on days of poor to severe and air pollution.
• Stop smoking cigarettes, bidis and other related tobacco products which increase the adverse effects of air pollution.

• Use public transport whenever possible to reduce air pollution.
• Avoid burning mosquito coils and incense sticks in closed buildings
- Do not burn wood/coal stoves in closed buildings during winters as it can be fatal due to the formation of carbon monoxide gas.
• Planting more trees for clean breathing can reduce the impact of air pollution on health. With every tree you plant, we can take a step towards a pollution-free tomorrow.