Bronx doctors urge those with respiratory issues to be cautious on anniversary of orange skies in NYC
In the Bronx, where health experts say residents are already affected by asthma at a disproportionate rate, one doctor says children were even more vulnerable.
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This week officially marks one year since New Yorkers woke up to an orange sky and unhealthy air.
The smoke from wildfires that started all the way in Canada spread all across New York City turning the sky a gloomy orange color.
City health officials say Bronx residents were some of the most at risk during that time.
"The Bronx has one of the worst air quality pollution index in the city, so the wildfires just make that worse," says Dr. Elissa Gross of Children's Hospital at Montefiore.
The phenomenon left many worried as city leaders said the air quality plummeted earning the city a spot on a list of places with the worse air qualities in the world.
In the Bronx, where health experts say residents are already affected by asthma at a disproportionate rate, Dr. Gross says children were even more vulnerable, hence the reason she urges parents to pay attention to air quality alerts.
"They're important because when it goes red, if you have any sort of breathing problems, you're at really high risk those days," says Gross. " Limit your time outside, take precaution and know yourself."
