Workshop offered for Westside seniors on how to build your own air filter

Photo: wikimedia commons

A Corsi-Rosenthal or "CR" box.

Seniors living on the Westside are invited to a free workshop on how to build your own air cleaners and prepare for wildfire season.

The event organized by the United Way is taking place Tuesday, July 16, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the new library at 3731 Old Okanagan Highway.

The workshop in partnership with Interior Health, SFU and the City of West Kelowna will highlight information on emergency preparedness, tailored specifically for seniors.

"Research shows that older adults are one of the highest risk groups for health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke because of their higher prevalence of pre-existing lung and heart issues, as well as lower defence mechanisms which decline with age," says Naomi Woodland, regional community impact and investment coordinator, United Way BC.

Additional events, including an emergency preparedness workshop for pregnant women, will take place in August.

"Public health recommends that people go inside on smoky days, but smoke can also be a problem indoors, particularly if people need to keep windows open to stay cool," says Anne-Marie Nicol, associate professor of professional practice in SFU's Faculty of Health Sciences.

"Air cleaners can reduce exposure to the fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) in smoke. When inhaled, these particulates can harm lungs and the cardiovascular system, making existing conditions such as COPD and asthma much worse. Air Cleaners can be purchased at big box stores, or people can build a unit on their own using simple materials from a hardware store."

The design includes a 20-by-20 filter on a box fan, using duct tape around the edges to create a shroud to focus incoming air into the filter so it becomes an efficient cleaning device, as opposed to a cooling device.

You can register for the event here.