Each day, Roland Latimer, a nine-year-old resident of Gold River, B.C., monitors the air quality before venturing outdoors due to his asthma condition, which requires him to carry inhalers for respiratory support.
During periods of poor air quality, particularly when wildfire smoke is prevalent, Roland is confined indoors to safeguard his health from potential asthma triggers.
While wildfire smoke poses health risks for everyone, it can be especially perilous for Roland, potentially leading to severe asthma attacks, restricting him to indoor spaces which he finds frustrating, despite understanding the necessity for his well-being.
Expressing his feelings, Roland described the experience as feeling trapped, emphasizing the challenges of being confined indoors.
Having access to real-time local air quality data, facilitated by the installation of four air quality monitors in Gold River, serves as a part of the enduring legacy of a young boy from British Columbia who tragically succumbed to an asthma attack during the 2023 wildfire season.
The initiative, known as Carter’s Project, was established in memory of nine-year-old Carter Vigh, who unknowingly faced hazardous air conditions at a birthday party in July 2023, leading to his tragic demise from an asthma-related incident.
In an effort to transform this tragedy into a constructive endeavor benefiting others, Carter’s family collaborated with the B.C. Lung Foundation to create Carter’s Project.
Amber Vigh, Carter’s mother, emphasized the importance of educating the community on air quality awareness and its critical significance.
James and Amber Vigh said they and their nine-year-old son, Carter, took his asthma seriously all of his life. Carter died in hospital on Tuesday.
Enhancing Air Quality Awareness
Wildfire smoke, even when imperceptible, contains harmful gases and minute particles like PM2.5, which infiltrate the lungs, causing inflammation. Vulnerable groups such as seniors, children, and individuals with chronic conditions like asthma or heart disease face increased health risks from these pollutants.
- <li class