Poor air quality causes health concerns for valley residents

High winds are kicking up dust here at home and it’s making for poor air quality conditions throughout the Coachella Valley.

Officials put out a windblown dust advisory for the Coachella Valley effective through Friday night. Medical professionals are warning residents to heed that advisory and stay indoors to protect your health from dangerous dust.

“Many of the patients that have come in today that I have met with have told me that they feel short of breath and they noticed the air quality,” Tina Louise Moreno, a respiratory therapist at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. “They’re even possibly going to have wheezing as a response to the particles in the air the dust.”

Residents are reporting having issues at home as well.

“With us, when you get home and you wanna go to bed, you’re kinda choking and I drank a lot of water last night more than I normally do,” said Ron Kvale, a Palm Springs resident.

Kvale said even his dogs are feeling the effects.

“You could see them panting more; they wanted water more,” Kvale said.

Moreno advises residents that use an inhaler to keep it handy.

“They should get that out. Make sure they know it where it is, have it ready,” Moreno said.

If you need medical help, don’t hesitate to seek it.

“Many times it can be very serious and they may need to call their doctor or even go to urgent care,” Moreno said.

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