Multiple wildfires across the southeast, along with drought conditions, have prompted an air quality alert for the Nashville area.
A Code Orange Health Advisory went into effect at midnight Monday and would continue until midnight Tuesday.
CODE ORANGE Air Quality Alert for several areas in TN due to the dry conditions & wildfires. More #NOWonNC5 pic.twitter.com/qNqDr2HVXp
— Lelan Statom (@NC5_LelanStatom) November 14, 2016
As a result of the advisory, Allergists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center said children and adults with respiratory problems, such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) should limit their time outdoors.
"They'll start coughing, wheezing, have shortness of breath, those type of symptoms," said Dr. Jonathan Hemler, a Pediatric Allergist.
Dr. Hemler added patients should continue to take prescribed medication to control symptoms.
The general public would likely not be affected.
Dr. Hemler said it is rare to have an air quality alert this time of year, and the alerts are more common in warmer months.
Multiple emergency agencies in Middle Tennessee have asked the public to not call about the smoke and smell. They assured everyone it was from the wildfires and that there was no immediate danger to our area.
