Precaution against Haze

Pay Attention on Air Quality
People should aware about the latest levels of the air condition.They can check API levels from news, newspaper, and website from Department of Environment.

Reduce Outdoor Activities
People should stay at home instead of outdoor activities due to the hazardous air quality.

Wear a Mask

Everyone who wants to go out should wear a right mask to prevent inhale the haze. A N95 respirator mask is effective in filtering out the fine particles that are produced by haze. People should not expose themselves unnecessarily to the haze, especially those who have respiratory problems or other related illnesses.

Close Windows and Doors 
People should close windows and doors that may allow haze t enter home and office. However, if the whether is hot, it could become danger if people stay indoor with enclosed area. Therefore, people should seek alternative shelter.

Use Air Purifier
People can choose an air purifier that is suitable the shelter to keep the particulate levels low.

Take Medication Regularly
If the person have existing diseases such as heart or respiratory illnesses, the person should take the medication regularly. If you have breath difficulty at this point, seek medical attention immediately.

Drink More Water
People should drink more water and increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables o helps the body to flush out toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs. Additionally, this can improve the immune system.

Avoid Smoking Indoor
This may increase the levels of pollution if people continue to smoke or burns anything openly for an extended period of time.

Avoid Driving 

When the visibility is bad or limited by the haze, people should avoid driving to prevent accident. People should use the public transport if really need to go somewhere. If you really need to drive, do not speed and turn on the headlight and avoid changing lanes and increase following distance.

Health Advisory in Different API Levels

The following shows some of the effect and health advisory for different index value of API levels. 

There is no precautions required in 50 to 100. When the index value was reached 101 to 200, those susceptible population could have heart or lung ailments, eye irritation, sneezing, coughing. These people with respiratory problems should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities.

When the index value was reached 101 to 200, this is  unhealthy level. This air quality could decreased tolerance in persons with heart or lung diseases. Elderly and persons with existing heart or lung illnesses should stay at indoors. The general population should avoid vigorous outdoor activities. On the other hand, people should put air cleaning devices in homes and offices.

Once the index value reached 201 to 300, it is very unhealthy levels for air quality. Due to this serious level, children, elderly, and illness person should stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities. The general population should avoid all unnecessary outdoor activities. People must wear a mask if they are going out. 

There is hazardous level once the index value of API is above 301. People  should keep physical exertion and outdoor activities to as low as level as possible. People should avoid outdoors activities.


Reference
Bliss Air (2013) Health effects of haze. Retrieved from: http://blissair.com/health-effects-of-haze.htm

Not only impact our health, but could impact ECONOMIC GROWTH

The haze not only impact your health, but may also impact economic growth of some part of the country if the atmosphere's condition does not improve and remain the unhealthy range. It could impact the our daily life.

The tourists from other countries tend to stay at home country instead of going out to the place which with unhealthy condition. Due to the unhealthy environment and people tend to reduce outdoor activities, tourism and leisure businesses lose their business at this point. Also, it could be lose millions of ringgit at current situation. In addition, if the haze getting worse, the tourists may return to their country and spread word about the situation of our country.
They might spread word by social network such as Facebook, and this will affect our tourism industry in future. Out country may blacklisted by other people due to the bad environment condition. On the other hand, the haze also affect consumer spending. People from our country would travel to other countries to escape the haze. It is a negative impact to our tourism industry.

Stop Burning!!!Haze in Malaysia 2013

This video shows the dangerous haze going on in Malaysia. During the haze episodes, we can smell the the haze is very strong. The haze covered the view of our country. I can't even see our lovely KLCC at that  time. Some place used to be a  lot of buildings of the view, but everything was covered by the haze. We should try our best to save the forest as save our mother earth and our life. Normally in Malaysia, the haze happen almost every year but is normally not this serious. Due to the excessive pollution and burning of rubbish, the haze has gone really bad. The only way to make it better is to stop burning forest and rubbish so often. We should save our forest and stop cutting down the trees and mountains. 

How Haze Affect Your Health

Eyes Inflammation 

Irritated Eyes

Watering Eyes

Conjunctivitis 

Nasal Irritation

Running Nose

Stuffy Nose

Sneezing

Post-Nasal Drip

Throat irritation

Dry Throat 

Sore Throat

Coughing

Lung Inflammation 

Decreased Lung Function

Depressed Respiratory Immune Defenses

Chest Pain

Stress, Headache, Dizziness, Fatigue

Haze is back!

The smoky Kuala Lumpur 

On July 23, 2013, the haze has returned to Malaysia in the morning with more than 100 API reading. Traditional dry period of southern ASEAN region are between June and October where annual forest fires in Indonesia will cause haze phenomenon in Malaysia. Malaysia was spared due to the wind direction and relief from the rain in the past few days; therefore, Malaysia is still expecting to experience the haze phenomenon until September due to the southwest monsoon. From the photo you can see that the KLCC is blanketed by the haze again. Other states in Malaysia such as Cheras, Putrajaya, Manjung and Shah Alam are all recorded moderate API readings between 60 to 93. Moreover, Port Klang is back to unhealthy API level of 117 again. 

The Kek Lok Si temple under API 100 in the morning 

Penang Bridge is blanketed with haze.

The haze is moving to north part which caused Ipoh, Penang and Perak to have an unhealthy level of API again. The Kek Lok Si temple is barely visible from the view and the API level is moving to unhealthy. The API reading in Ipon is recorded 107 which is unhealthy. At the same time, Alor Setar and Kangar are both recorded with API 108 and 103 respectively. The people in these states need to wear masks and take precaution against the haze again.