The State Health Department teams up with the University of Hawaii when it comes to tracking vog.
"It’s a website that forecasts the vog and how it might move up the chain," said Lisa Young, State Health Department.
Just like charting the weather, the model allows health experts to keep an eye out when conditions get dangerous.
"The vog flare as we sometimes call it. People with existing medical conditions, especially in the lungs like C.O.P.D., emphysema, asthma. There is definitely more calls for medication. I know there is more visits to the emergency room, which equates to more hospital admissions," said Dr. Kevin Park, Queen’s Medical Center.
The state has actually set up a half dozen air monitors on Hawaii Island, where residents are at greater risk.
"The pollutant of concern is the sulfur dioxide gas. It’s a little bit more dangerous when it is high, people can be affected by," Young said.
The state will issue advisories when necessary to warn residents.
The danger is so real on Hawaii Island that the Queen’s Medical Center has set up a clinic in Hilo.
"My experience so far is that we’d like to get out to the community and actually have the patients diagnosed correctly. And develop the best kind of therapies to try and control their exacerbations," Dr. Young said.
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See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
