Every day, nine-year-old Roland Latimer monitors the air quality in Gold River, B.C., before going outdoors. Dealing with asthma, he carries inhalers for respiratory support.
During periods of poor air quality, such as when wildfire smoke is prevalent, he must remain indoors to safeguard his health.
While wildfire smoke poses health risks for everyone, it can be particularly hazardous for Roland, potentially triggering severe asthma attacks. Despite the necessity for his safety, the confinement indoors can be frustrating for him.
“It feels like I’m trapped,” he shared with What on Earth host Laura Lynch.
Access to local safety information, now enhanced with the installation of four air quality monitors in the small Vancouver Island village where Roland resides, is part of the legacy of a nine-year-old B.C. boy who lost his life to an asthma attack during the 2023 wildfire season.
Carter Vigh, also nine years old, tragically passed away after attending a birthday party at a water park on a day when his parents detected no smoke odor. The Air Quality Health Index indicated a “low risk” reading, based on monitors situated around 100 kilometers away from their residence in 100 Mile House, B.C.
Driven by the desire to prevent such tragedies, Carter’s family has teamed up with the B.C. Lung Foundation to establish Carter’s Project.
“We need to take the time and learn about air quality and how important it is,” remarked Amber Vigh, Carter’s mother.
James and Amber Vigh said they and their nine-year-old son, Carter, took his asthma seriously all of his life. Carter died in hospital on Tuesday.
Air quality education
Wildfire smoke, even when invisible or odorless, can pose significant risks.
Comprising gases and microscopic particles like PM2.5, it infiltrates the lungs, causing inflammation. Particularly vulnerable groups, such as seniors, young children, and
