The Ministry of Health is advising members of the public to take precautions following the recent fire at the Riverton City dump.
Persons are asked to avoid exposure to the smoke by doing the following:
– Minimize all outdoor activities and persons living in and around the vicinity of the Riverton City dump should close windows and doors to prevent excessive exposure;
– Persons who suffer from asthma and other respiratory illnesses should cover mouth and nose with a clean damp rag to protect themselves from inhalation of smoke and dust particles;
– Keep children indoors as much as possible; look out for any difficulty in breathing or any discomfort that your child may experience;
– Persons with illnesses such as heart or lung conditions and other chronic diseases should continue to take medications as prescribed; and
– Anyone who is experiencing difficulty breathing, wheezing or tightness in the chest should seek urgent medical assistance.
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) ordered an immediate investigationinto the circumstances under which it appears that arsonists lit two fires at the disposal site off Spanish Town Road in St Andrew within less than 12 hours on Sunday.
Riverton site again on fire
In a release from the Office of the Prime Minister, Chairman of the NSWMA, Dennis Chung, said the authority is checking whether or not there were any procedural breaches in terms of security access.
