Smoke sending 100’s of people to area emergency rooms

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – Smoke from more than three dozen brush and wildfires throughout the Tennessee Valley are sending many folks to the emergency room, and in some cases, forcing people with respiratory problems to stay inside and even cancel doctor appointments.

Brush and wildfire smoke that has engulfed the Tennessee Valley is not only making it hard to see things like buildings and landscape; it’s also making it harder for people to breathe. Doctors at area hospitals are seeing an increased number of patients come through the ER with all kinds of respiratory problems.

“Mainly people with emphysema and asthma that becomes uncontrolled because of the environment and what’s going in the weather and smoke,” said Erlaner Pulmonologist Patrick Koo.

“We’re actually seeing an increase in complaints either by telephone, routine follow-ups where people are complaining about worsening respiratory symptoms; COPD and asthma is actually doing a lot worse now,” said Memorial Pulmonologist Chad Paxson.

Between November 1st and November 13th, Erlanger’s emergency room has seen more than 100 patients with respiratory issues.

Between this past Saturday morning and Sunday evening, Memorial Hospital has treated 96 patients who had problems breathing. 37 of those patients have showed up to the ER within the past 24-hours.

The smoke is so bad that several patients of the Buzz Standefer Lung Center at Memorial Hospital can’t make it to scheduled doctor’s appointments.

“Some are actually cancelling so that they don’t have to come in because they’re just trying to avoid the outdoors right now,”Dr. Paxson said.

News 12 asked doctors about people who can’t avoid being outside for long hours; people like construction workers.

“They do sell masks at drug stores that cover their nose and mouth. Those usually can reduce the amount of particulate matters they inhale,” said Dr. Koo.

But not every mask offers 100-percent protection.

“You really have to look at the ratings on those to be able to block. They’re not all created equal, so if the small particles are 2 and half micron particles, a lot of the simple masks are not going to be sufficient,” said Dr. Paxson.

The smoke is also affecting school activities in both Tennessee and North Georgia.
Officials in several school districts told News 12 they are either cancelling certain outdoor activities during school hours or limiting the amount of time children can stay outside.