How The Haze In Singapore Effects Your Kids And Health?

Understanding PSI Levels In Singapore:

You hear a lot of chatter about it... so what is it?  PSI is the gauge in which we measure air quality. The PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) range covers 0 to above 300.  The values below describe the air quality and what is healthy versus unhealthy.  How much you can do outdoors depends on several factors *(your health, the PSI, and the intensity of the outdoor exercise).

PSI Value:  Click here to check the PSI today.

0 - 50 (Good)  *Everyone can enjoy normal activities.

51 - 100 (Moderate)  *Everyone can enjoy normal activities.

101 - 200 (Unhealthy)  *For Kids/Pregnant women, minimize strenuous physical exercise.  Healthy people need to reduce prolonged exertion.

201 - 300 (Very Unhealthy)  *For Kids/Pregnant women, minimize outdoor activities.  Healthy people need to reduce strenuous physical exercise.

Above 300 (Hazardous)  *For Kids/Pregnant women, avoid outdoor activity.  Healthy people need to minimize outdoor activity.

MASK WEARING DURING HAZE IN SINGAPORE:

When levels get high and you need to be outdoors you may want to consider wearing a mask. N95 masks are designed to seal to the face of the wearer. This way, most of the air that the wearer breathes in has to go through the filter and not through the gaps between the mask and the wearer’s face.

HOW DOES HAZE IN SINGAPORE EFFECT YOUR HEALTH?

The haze can affect each of us in different ways. Haze particles may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat in healthy individuals. Such irritation resolves on its own in most cases. Haze particles can affect the heart and lungs, especially in people who already have chronic heart or lung disease e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart failure. There may be up to 1-3 day time lag between exposure to haze and health effects/ symptoms. Take precautions, it's better to be safe than sorry.

RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

The National Environment Agency, 1800 CALL NEA (1800-225 5632), www.haze.gov.sg

Clean & Green Singapore, www.facebook.com/CGSingapore

National Environmental Agency In Singapore - Twitter Feed, https://twitter.com/neasg

Clean & Green Singapore YOUTUBE, www.youtube.com/user/CleanGreenSingapore