California Hospitals See Sharp Rise In ER Cases Due To Wild Fires
Most of the cases have to do with smoke inhalation.
Stat:
California Wildfires Blanket Region In Smoky Pollutants, Raising Health Risks
The raging Northern California wildfires that have burned thousands of structures and caused the deaths of at least 31 people are also fouling the air across the region, driving a significant uptick in hospitalizations and keeping many residents cooped up indoors. Acrid air quality extends throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area — well beyond the immediate fire zones — according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Particulates and smoke have seeped into buildings in Oakland, Silicon Valley, and other areas well outside the fire zone. Homes and offices dozens of miles from the flames smell like campfires, and the air outside is thick with pollutants. (Piller, 10/13)
Los Angeles Times:
The Northern California Firestorm Is Straining Hospitals And The Healthcare System
The deadly Northern California fires — by forcing the evacuation of several hospitals and clinics and destroying the homes of many doctors and nurses — have put a strain on available medical services. (Karlamangla, 10/12)