Tracy Kovalench
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 22/98) - With itchy eyes and scratchy throats, most Yellowknifers emerge from this past week's blanket of smoke, suffering from a few minor irritations at most.

For the average person, the smoke is more of a nuisance, says Daryl Dolynny, owner of Shoppers Drug Mart. "There's really not a lot you can do," he adds.

Although the pharmacy's inhaler sales have shown a slight increase, empty store shelves indicate eye-drops were in highest demand over the weekend.

There has also been an increase in the demand for air-purification systems, which are popular devices used in smoky work environments, says Dolynny. Most furnaces also have an air filter, he adds, advising people to close their windows and stay indoors on smoky days.

People have to do what they think is best, says Dolynny.

"Common sense has to prevail," agrees Craig Robinson, a respiration therapist at Stanton Regional Hospital. Robinson says people should remain indoors if possible. He also cautions anyone with predisposed medical problems not to exercise outdoors.

Asthmatics like Karina Mercredi wait patiently for the smoke to pass. Nights spent at her parents cabin by Prelude Lake are constantly interrupted by coughing and a tightness in her throat.

"I wake up at least once or twice in the middle of the night," says Mercredi, who reaches for her inhaler first thing in the morning.

Right now, staff at Stanton Regional Hospital can only help to make asthmatics like Mercredi more comfortable. According to hospital statistics, smoke inhalation over the past week has yet to show any serious short-term effects.

Seven Yellowknife residents have passed through Stanton's emergency doors complaining of respiratory problems since last Wednesday, says Susan Murdoch, the hospital's acting manager of ambulatory services. The number of reported respiratory problems are not out of the ordinary at all, she adds.

More than half the patients were asthmatics and three experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing, says Murdoch, who stresses the number of reported cases are well within average. "The numbers are insignificant at this point," she adds. Murdoch continues to monitor respiratory complaints reported to the hospital for any cumulative effects.