Alberta now has more confirmed measles cases than entire U.S.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
More people in Sask. turning to air conditioners to avoid wildfire smoke indoors
As Saskatchewan summers become hazier with wildfires burning across the prairies, more people are turning to air conditioning to improve indoor air quality. 'We have been incredibly busy,' said Mike Shaw, the leader of operations at Centennial Plumbing, Heating and Electrical. 'We would love to recruit some more great people as service technicians.' Shaw says Centennial is having trouble keeping up with the number of calls for air conditioner installs this summer, as indoor air quality has become more of a concern, especially since air quality advisories have become common in the summer months. Respirologist Dr. Brianne Philipenko says in addition to avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, people who are sensitive to smoke or those who have underlying heart or lung conditions should keep their windows closed to preserve indoor air quality. 'The big thing we talk about when we're talking about wildfire smoke is PM (particulate matter) 2.5, which is a measurement of a particle that's in the air,' Philipenko said. 'The reason why it's particularly harmful is because it's so small, can settle deep in the lungs and cause inflammation and damage in the lungs because of that.' Shaw says more people are relying on air conditioners to keep air circulating during long stretches when windows remain closed. But air conditioning alone won't be enough to keep your home pollutant free. 'Along with your air conditioner, get a HEPA filter, or some type of carbon activated filter, that can eliminate the odor in your house,' Shaw said. 'Lots of filters will take out particles and large particles especially, but you need the carbon filter part to actually get rid of the odor.' HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air filters are designed to be a more effective filter, with many companies advertising 99.97 per cent removal of airborne particles over 0.3 microns that go beyond what a typical furnace filter is capable of. 'It's a whole home system that as your air conditioning is running. It'll filter the air that comes from all the different areas of your house,' Shaw said. Philipenko says air quality sensors are available for purchase to keep a close eye on indoor air quality. Standalone air purifiers are another option to filter air. Shaw advises to shut down humidifiers, with the damper closed and the valve turned off in the summer months to avoid air conditioners from constantly running. Shaw said people often forget to regularly change out their furnace filter and regularly maintain their air conditioner, which will help reduce pollutants and increase the efficiency of your furnace system.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Safety alert in North Bay: carfentanil and fluorofentanyl found in drug supply
North Bay police said drugs believed to be carfentanil and fluorofentanyl may be present in the local illicit drug supply. Police in North Bay are issuing a high-priority safety alert after a recent investigation of an overdose uncovered two extremely dangerous drugs. That investigation found that carfentanil and fluorofentanyl may be present in the local illicit drug supply. Both are 'highly potent synthetic opioids' that are extremely dangerous and pose a significant risk to users, first responders, health care providers and the broader community. Drug warning North Bay police said drugs believed to be carfentanil and fluorofentanyl may be present in the local illicit drug supply. (Eric Taschner/CTV News) Carfentanil is estimated to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine. It is used legally only as a tranquilizer for large animals such as elephants and is not approved for human use. Fluorofentanyl is a variant of fentanyl, which is chemically altered with a fluorine atom and can be up to twice as potent as fentanyl. Like other variants, it is often found in counterfeit pills or mixed with other substances, making it especially dangerous. 'We know the damage that fentanyl does within the community and the people that die from fentanyl use.' — Acting deputy chief Jeff Warner 'We know the damage that fentanyl does within the community and the people that die from fentanyl use,' said acting deputy chief Jeff Warner. Carfentanil and fluorofentanyl are Schedule I substances under Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and even a trace amount can cause death. Both can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, and may appear in powder, tablet, blotter or spray form. Police are warning that the drugs may be mixed with other opioids and street drugs like cocaine, meth or counterfeit tablets without the user's knowledge. 'These dangerous substances are circulating within our community in the illicit drug supply. Be careful if you are using,' Warner added. 'Between July 1 and Dec. 31 in 2024, the Toronto drug checking service found that carfentanil analogs were in 77 per cent of expected fentanyl samples.' Naxalone The health unit strongly urges people who use drugs to never use alone, only use needles once and then discard them safely in a sharps container or bin and always carry naloxone to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. (File) The latest statistics from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit said that as of Friday, 51 opioid-related overdoses have been recorded in Nipissing and Parry Sound and 10 people have died. Since 2021, 86 lives have been lost to opioid overdoses. 'In the bigger picture, we're seeing really since the beginning of the pandemic, our numbers have been significantly higher than the province,' Chris Bowes, the health unit's executive director of organizational effectiveness, said. 'That's a trend that we're seeing across the north.' The health unit strongly urges people who use drugs to never use alone, only use needles once and then discard them safely in a sharps container or bin and always carry naloxone to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. 'We do basic naloxone training and we also supply naloxone to the public,' Bowes said. If you suspect an overdose, call 911 immediately, administer naloxone if available and stay with the person until help arrives.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Smilezones make pediatric spaces less scary for kids at this P.E.I. hospital
Prince Edward Island now has its first Smilezone spaces at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. The areas are designed to make the hospital more welcoming for pediatric patients and their families. Staff say they're already having an impact. CBC's Sheehan Desjardins has the story.
