Smoke haze blanketed Geelong on Monday and several days last week as bushfires raged across the country.
The EPA on Monday described air quality in Geelong as very poor with murky haze from bushfires in Tasmania and Gippsland covering parts of Victoria.
The majority of the smoke had blown in from Tasmania, according to the EPA.
Geelong council temporarily closed Eastern Beach children’s pool and cancelled life guard patrols on Monday following advice from the EPA and Life Saving Victoria.
Conditions improved on Tuesday but Geelong could be in for more smoke, with fires still burning out of control and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicting hotter-than-usual temperatures from January to April.
Barwon Health’s respiratory medicine director James Malone warned locals to take caution if the haze returned.
“The effects of smoke exposure to a person depend on their age, pre-existing medical conditions and the length of time they are exposed,” he said.
“For healthy adults, effects may include irritation of the eyes, runny nose, sore throat and coughing.”
But the smoke could cause more severe symptoms in children under 14, adults over 65, smokers, pregnant women and people with heart or lung conditions, Dr Malone said.
“It is important that susceptible people stay inside with windows and doors shut, minimise physical activity and, if possible, set air conditioners to recirculate.”
Dr Malone encouraged people with asthma and other airway disorders to have their reliever medication available and use high-performance breathing masks if they needed to be outside.
He urged anyone with acute respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing, to phone 000.
People experiencing less severe symptoms should visit their GP or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24, he said.
