City to Distribute N95 Masks to At-Risk Residents Amid Air Quality Concerns

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Beginning today, Jan. 10, the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will distribute free N95 respirator face masks to Long Beach residents over the age of 18 who are at high risk of health impacts from air quality related to the ongoing fires in Los Angeles County, including older adults, people with disabilities, people with underlying health conditions, or people who are immunocompromised. N95 respirators filter particles, including fine particles from smoke and coarse particles from ash, both of which are respiratory irritants that can cause coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.

These face masks will be distributed at all Long Beach Public Library locations, as well as various community centers and senior centers across Long Beach.

Eligible residents are encouraged to pick up masks at any of the locations listed below during their normal business hours. Operating hours vary, so residents should call their preferred location ahead of time to verify they are open. Phone numbers to community centers are available in the directory.

• All Long Beach Public Library locations
• Admiral Kidd Park Community Center (2125 Santa Fe Ave.)
• Cesar E. Chavez Park Community Center (401 Golden Ave.)
• Drake Park Center (951 Maine Ave.)
• El Dorado Park West Community Center (2800 N. Studebaker Rd.)
• Freeman Community Center (1205 Freeman Ave.)
• Houghton Park Community Center (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
• Long Beach Senior Center (1150 East 4th St.)
• MacArthur Park (1321 Anaheim St.)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center (1910 Lemon Ave.)
• McBride Park Community Center (1550 Martin Luther King Ave.)
• Orizaba Park Community Center (1435 Orizaba)
• Silverado Park Community Center (1545 West 31st St.)
• Stearns Champions Park Community Center (1545 West 31st St.)
• Veterans Park Community Center (101 East 28th St.)
• Wardlow Park Community Center (3457 Stanbridge Ave.)
• Whaley Park Community Center (5620 Atherton St.)

Homeless Services Bureau staff will continue to distribute masks to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and the City's Inclement Weather Shelter will operate through Monday night, Jan. 13.

The City is also conducting outreach to local community-based senior and disability-serving organizations to determine their capacity to aid in distributing N95 face masks to eligible residents in effort to increase access to this public health resource.

It should be noted that masks do not reduce exposure to other potentially harmful constituents of wildfire smoke such as toxic gases or vapors. The most effective action the public can take to reduce the risk of health effects from the inhalation of wildfire smoke is to stay indoors in cleaner air and minimize the amount of time spent outdoors in smoky conditions. However, for those who must be outdoors during smoke events, N95 respirators offer enhanced protection if selected and used properly.

The City continues to advise all residents of the potential unhealthy air quality due to the multiple fires in Los Angeles County, which continue to produce heavy smoke. People should exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke and ash. This includes areas where residents can see or smell smoke. In any area impacted by smoke, residents should take the following precautions:

• Avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion.
• Remain indoors, especially for people with respiratory or heart disease, those who are pregnant, older adults, and children.
• Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter.
• Run your air conditioner if you have one.
• Change the standard air-conditioner filter to a medium or high-efficiency filter. If you have a wall-unit or window-unit air conditioner, set it to "recirculate."
• Avoid the use of a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing additional smoke inside, if possible.
• Avoid indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces, to avoid worsening the health effects of wildfire smoke.

For more detailed information about air quality related to the wildfires, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District's website at aqmd.gov or view a map of local real-time air quality data. If you would like to sign up for air quality forecasts, subscribe by visiting air quality alerts.

For up-to-date information on area fires, visit Los Angeles County's Emergency Response Page.

Residents are also encouraged to sign up for Alert Long Beach to receive free emergency notifications from the City of Long Beach.

Media inquiries may be directed to the Joint Information Center at 562.570.NEWS or [email protected].

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