SACRAMENTO - State Health Director Diana M. Bontá, R.N., Dr.P.H, today advised Southern California residents to take precautions with perishable food products and drinking water because they may be affected by electrical power disruptions caused by the wildfires burning throughout the region. She also advised residents that surgical and ordinary dust masks do not block fine particulate air pollution caused by the fires and may provide a false sense of protection.

"Residents in smoky areas should stay indoors and limit their physical activity outdoors," Bontá said. "In smoky conditions, strenuous outdoor activities, including aerobic sports and children's physical education classes, should be curtailed."

"Boil water" orders may be issued by local water districts when it is determined that drinking water may temporarily be unsafe for consumption. Residents will be notified of a "boil water" order by their local water district or local news media. If a "boil water" order is issued, residents should not use their tap water for drinking, washing dishes and utensils, hand washing or cooking. Dishwashers should not be used while there is a "boil water" order in place.

The following guidelines can be used as temporary measures when "boil water" orders are issued.

For consumers:

• Do not drink the water or use it to wash hands or dishes without boiling it first. Bring all water for drinking to a boil. Let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using it or use bottled water. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

• Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking and food preparation until the boil water order is rescinded.

• An alternative method of purification for residents who do not have gas or electricity available is to use fresh liquid household bleach, such as Clorox or Purex. Add eight drops (or 1/4 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of clear water or 16 drops (or 1/2 teaspoon) per gallon of cloudy water, mix thoroughly and allow to stand for 30 minutes before using. A chlorine-like taste and odor will result from this purification procedure and is an indication that adequate disinfection occurred.

• Water purification tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer's instructions.

The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) has notified all food manufacturers, water bottling plants, retail water facilities and water vending machine operators that utilize the public drinking water supplies to cease operations in affected areas until any boil water orders are rescinded. CDHS will continue to monitor the situation in cooperation with local health jurisdictions. Food retailers should follow the same advice as provided to consumers or use bottled water.

Power outages are also possible during wildfires. A power outage of two hours or less is not considered hazardous to food that is stored in a properly functioning refrigerator or freezer. Should a power outage occur, residents should take the following recommendations to keep food safe.

For consumers, food processors and retailers:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

• Group packages of cold food together to reduce heat gain.

• The use of dry ice may result in skin burns or unsafe build-up of carbon dioxide. Proper safety and handling precautions should be taken if dry ice is going to be used.

• Do not place hot foods in refrigerators or freezers. Use ice to rapidly cool small batches of hot food before placing in a refrigerator or freezer.

When power is restored, identify foods that require refrigeration and may not have been stored in a temperature cold enough to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. If temperatures are at 45 degrees or below, the food can be considered safe. Product temperatures should be checked with an accurate thermometer.

If consumers are in doubt about the safety of perishable food that has not been maintained below 45 degrees, they should discard it. For consumers or retailers that have more specific questions about the safety of their food, they can contact their local environmental health department for additional information. For manufacturers and processors of food or water, they can contact CDHS' Food and Drug Branch in Sacramento for additional guidance at 916/445-2265.

Regarding the smoky conditions, Bontá emphasized that infants and young children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with heart conditions or chronic lung disease such as asthma and bronchitis, and individuals with other respiratory ailments are especially vulnerable.

Because of the uncertainty of fire conditions, Bontá advised residents near the fires to be prepared. Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should make sure that they are on their medication and have at least a five-day supply on hand. Individuals with asthma should consult their physician about an asthma management plan and stick to it during the unusually smoky conditions. Listen for radio and television messages about fires in your area.

In general, wearing a mask is not an effective exposure-reduction strategy during a wildfire. For a mask to be effective, it must be able to filter very small particles (approximately 0.3 to 0.1 micrometer) and must fit well to provide an airtight seal around the wearer's mouth and nose. Commonly available paper dust masks, which are designed to filter out larger particles such as sawdust, offer little protection. The same is true for bandanas, wet or dry, and tissues held over the mouth or nose.

Surgical masks that trap small particles are designed to filter air coming out of the wearer's mouth and do not provide a good seal to prevent inhalation of small particles or combustion gases. In fact, masks may actually be detrimental by giving the wearer a false sense of security that encourages increased physical activity and time spent outdoors.

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