The Castle Rock Wildfire is producing severe smoke in the Wood River Valley and is expected to do so for the next week to two weeks. For people with heart and lung diseases, the poor air quality can aggravate symptoms, which in some cases may be life threatening.
"On Sunday I felt pressure on my chest and felt sick all day," said Taylor Gibson Ullman, who lives north of Ketchum, and suffers from asthma. "It's the way you feel with bronchitis."
Other people are complaining of headaches, coughs and scratchy throats. St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center is "trying to stock up on inhalers, mostly for the out of town firefighters," said hospital spokeswoman Tonia Bruess.
St. Luke's issued a medical advisory on Sunday, which suggested that individuals with heart and lung conditions should consider leaving the Wood River Valley if possible. If you are not sure if you fall into this category, contact your personal healthcare provider. Avoid calling the emergency room unless there is an immediate life threatening condition, in which case you should call 911.
Evacuees should make sure they have all medications and pertinent medical records with them if they leave. People at risk are advised to stay indoors and seal windows and doors to reduce the amount of smoke that enters a dwelling. Avoid any outside physical activity or strenuous exertion. Limit any exposure to smoke of the very young or old.
To ask about any health concerns related to the fire and smoke, call the St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center nurses' station at 727-8910.
The medical advisory also states that "the hospital has limited beds available and that the ability to transfer patients out of the valley by air ambulance may be suddenly eliminated by the poor visibility caused by smoke."
The Red Cross of Idaho has established an evacuation center at the Community Campus, on Fox Acre Road in Hailey. The shelter is staffed with volunteers from the South Central region of Idaho. There are cots, blankets and food available.
"This is what the Red Cross is here for," said Shawn Tolman, Red Cross regional director from Idaho Falls. "We're dependent on volunteers and donations. If we end up with a lot of people, we'll need more volunteers and food.
For more information, call (208) 243-0517, which goes directly to Tolman in Hailey.
