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City of Tacoma Establishes an Air Quality Relief Site at Eastside Community Center

City of Tacoma Establishes an Air Quality Relief Site at Eastside Community Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 15, 2020

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@ci.tacoma.wa.us, (253) 591-5152
Megan Snow, Media and Communications, msnow@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5051

City of Tacoma Establishes an Air Quality Relief Site at Eastside Community Center

 

The City of Tacoma has established an Air Quality Relief Site at Metro Parks’ Eastside Community Center (1721 E 56th St), which will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for any resident who needs refuge from smoke beginning tomorrow.

 

The site will be operated by community partners and Pierce County Medical Reserve Corps. will be onsite to provide COVID-19 screenings. The site can accommodate up to 50 people at a time.

 

People who visit the site will be required to follow Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department physical distancing requirements and wear masks while inside.

 

Water will be provided and donations of non-perishable pre-packaged snacks can be made at the site. The site will be available until air quality levels are at or below PM150 (Orange – Unhealthy for sensitive groups).

 

Wildfire smoke reduces visibility and creates outdoor air quality issues that can affect people’s health. Women who are pregnant, children and the elderly, and those who have respiratory issues like asthma, COPD, people who smoke, have disabilities, or heart or circulatory problems are more at risk. During Wildfire Smoke Season, follow these steps to protect your health in the haze:

  • Talk with your health care provider if you have respiratory or circulatory illnesses about air quality issues and how to protect yourself.

    • If you have shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue or difficulty moving, contact your healthcare provider immediately or call 911.

    • If you have questions about lung health, managing asthma or allergies or for air quality issues you can call the American Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA (586-4872) Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    • For more information about how to protect your or your family’s health visit the Washington State Department of Health online at doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires.

    • Follow the suggested activity guidelines from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency issues air quality burn bans based on air quality levels. To find out if there is an air quality-related burn ban, visit pscleanair.org. 

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