The Ministry of Public Health has ordered 8 hospitals in the North of Thailand for preparation to accept patients sick from the air pollution crisis. Citizens are suffering from the constant PM 2.5 particles floating in the air. Chiang Mai has remained in the worst air polluted cities in the world for weeks straight.
Dr. Thongchai Lerdwiraited from the Ministry of Public Health has reported that there have been preparations made at hospitals located in 8 provinces located in the North of Thailand to prepare for patients affected by tiny particles of PM2.5 in the air.
The 8 provinces are heavily affected by the air pollution from the wildfires that are continuously starting up and spreading out into the air. These 8 provinces include 1. Chiang Mai, 2. Lampang, 3. Lamphun, 4. Mae Hong Son, 5. Nan, 6. Phrae, 7. Phayao, and 8. Tak. More citizens are becoming sick every day, especially those who are already at high risk from remaining sicknesses or diseases. Citizens with allergies belong to the high-risk group, even with an air filter system, if the system cannot cover the total area of your room then it cannot cancel out 100% of the risk that remains. Citizens are advised to visit the hospital right away if symptoms of pain in the nostrils or blood appears to prevent further harm from the pollution to your breathing system.
The Ministry of Public Health advises hospitals located in the high-risk areas where the Air Quality Index level is at orange and red zones to follow these rules,
- To keep track of the AQI levels in the area, including PM10 and PM 2.5 levels from the Pollution Control Department (PCD).
- To notify citizens to wear masks that are able to filter PM2.5 particles and to make sure that citizens know how to wear the masks properly to fully filter the air that they are breathing in. Hospital officials are also advised to visit patients that are at high risk of being affected by pollution.
- To work together with the local government in finding enough masks to provide to citizens in each area as necessary.
- Hospitals need to prepare medical tools and medicine and to work together with the local government in each district for the preparation of clean rooms. Doctors and hospital officials are advised to wear masks as a good example for citizens to see and follow.
