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The Mayor’s Office of Barranquilla, through the District Health Secretariat, the Risk Management Office and Barranquilla Verde, faces the burning situation that has occurred since last Sunday in the Isla Salamanca Natural Park, located in the municipality of Sitonuevo, in the department of Magdalena, and that affects the tranquility of the people of Barranquilla. For this reason, the District provides a series of important recommendations for the protection, health and well-being of citizens who are affected by the smoke and ashes produced by the burning in that area of the Magdalena department.
Regarding air quality, monitoring of the evolution of this event was activated through the Air Quality Surveillance System, in accordance with the parameters established in Resolution 2254 of 2017 and the air quality protocol. This analysis includes the evaluation of the time series and the exposure at 24 and 48 hours.
In that sense, Barranquilla Verde reported that, both in the measurement stations and in the satellite system, the concentration of pollutants in the city is well below the maximum levels permissible by the standard – which indicates the reference conditions for pollutants. criterion that puts air quality at risk -, which is why it is not necessary to declare an alert by the environmental authority of Barranquilla with regard to air quality.
However, the smoke produced by these forest fires emits very fine particles that easily enter the respiratory system, causing problems especially in children, pregnant women and people with pathologies such as allergies, asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or diseases. from the heart. For these people, it is recommended – if they have respiratory illnesses – not to go outside. If you do so, put on the mask.
Some effects or warning signs that this smoke can cause on health, even in healthy people, are: irritated eyes, dry cough or phlegm, headache, dizziness, chest discomfort, nausea and difficulty breathing.
Measures to reduce health risks
The call of the district Administration, through the Ministry of Health, to citizens is to adopt measures to reduce the risk of smoke caused by these fire outbreaks originating in the neighboring department:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
- Close, if possible, doors and windows.
- Keep the air conditioner filter clean and close the outside air intake to prevent smoke from entering.
- Protect yourself from ashes and other fire products when cleaning your house, to avoid irritation to the eyes, nose, skin, cough, etc.
- Stay hydrated.
Finally, the Mayor’s Office of Barranquilla, to safeguard the health, tranquility and safety of its citizens, has assumed the permanent coordination of the Unified Command Post to address the situation that already affects the protected area of the Vía Parque Natural Isla Salamanca and that impacts negatively to Barranquilla.
Through its Risk Management Office, it permanently coordinates 75 people who work jointly on behalf of the Sitionuevo Fire Department in Magdalena, the Civil Defense, personnel from National Natural Parks, Ponalsar, the National Navy and the National Army. , in the development of operational tasks to try to control the flames manually, while the national government authorizes intervention with a Bambi Bucket helicopter, which is necessary due to the action of the strong winds in the area that fan the flames.
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