Editor:
As a community we are pulling together to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID-19 through social isolating and other measures.
The acts of kindness that community members are doing to help each other is heart warming to see, and to receive.
During this difficult time, there are so many ways our choices and actions can positively impact our community members. I am only going to talk about one choice that we can all make, easily.
As you are probably aware, this virus can be especially serious for some of our lungs.
One way I believe we can all do something easily, to support our community members, is by helping keep our air as clean as possible during this pandemic.
Clean air is especially important for community members with impaired lung function, but it may help all of us handle this virus with more positive outcomes.
So how can we individually help with keeping our air clean?
Well, it’s easy. We can make the conscientious choice to stop burning wood in our homes and back yards.
In my experience, wood smoke is a big contributing factor to air pollution in our valley. It is of course not the only air pollutant, but definitely a big one in my opinion.
Most of us are aware that wood smoke is a lung irritant and can be seriously harmful to lung health.
For any reader that was not aware of this fact, the Government of Canada has a good website on the effects of wood smoke on health.
There is some wood smoke we have no choice but to tolerate: We have no choice with FireSmart burns. We need them.
We have no choice with forest fire smoke engulfing our town most summers. These event are out of our control.
But, we can make a choice to not burn wood in our homes and back yards.
As individuals, if you stop burning wood, it will have an immediate positive impact on how clean the air in your neighbourhood and valley is.
It will positively impact your neighbours lung health and your own.
Such an easy choice to make, to help care for each other, and the air we share.
Come on Canmore, let’s all do this.
Sue Falkner-March,
Canmore
