RES 298 Draft 02 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 298 10 (DRAFT 2) STATE OF HAWAII A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AMEND HAWAII REVISED STATUTES CHAPTER 132D, SECTION 17, (INCONSISTENT COUNTY ORDINANCES, RULES), TO ALLOW EACH COUNTY TO TEMPORARILY RESTRICT THE USE OF FIREWORKS IN THE EVENT OF A PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND /OR WELFARE SITUATION. WHEREAS, Kilauea Volcano has been erupting since 1983 (26 years), producing sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter ( "vog "), which causes respiratory problems for many Hawai`i Island residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii, Department of Health website states: "The Hawai`i State Department of Health (DOH) urges Hawai`i County residents to take precautions to protect their health whenever there are elevated levels of air pollutants. Communities near the Kilauea volcano are particularly affected by increased levels of both sulfur dioxide (502) and fine particulate matter (PM 5) caused by the recent volcanic activity. Communities farther away from the volcano, such as Kona, will more likely be affected only by PM2 ..... and "Elevated levels of SO2 or PM 5 can cause breathing problems in individuals especially those with pre - existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. If you have respiratory conditions and live or work in an area impacted by SO2 or vog, consider taking precautionary measures. The following are general recommendations from the American Lung Association: • Stay indoors and use an air conditioner, if available. • Do not smoke and avoid second -hand smoke. • Limit physical exertion. • Drink plenty of fluids to loosen mucus. Warm beverages seem to work best. • If you take medications, always have an adequate supply and keep them readily available in a convenient place. • Contact your physician as soon as any respiratory problem develops. While these recommendations are intended primarily for persons having respiratory or chronic lung disease, they are also useful for healthy persons during vog episodes. For