Ozone alert keeps thousands indoors

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas - Elevated levels of air pollution mixed with near triple-digit temperatures are threatening people with respiratory illnesses. Doctors advised anyone with breathing or heart problems to stay inside from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Inside AmeriKick in Overland Park, Lily Julian, 11, jumped, kicked and crunched herself near exhaustion. It still beat being outside where, five years ago, play during a friend’s backyard birthday party revealed her illness.

“The first time we received her diagnosis, we didn’t believe it because she didn’t wheeze,” said Kate Julian, Lily’s mother. “She didn’t show the signs that we thought asthmatics showed.”

The only signs of trouble Monday were the inhaler Lily Julian keeps handy and her desire not to go outside.

“I was out there earlier and I was like wow it’s hot,” Lily Julian said.

At Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care, Dr. Sharon Lee gave patients with respiratory illnesses strict orders.

“I’m telling folks to stay inside,” Lee said. “Stay cool. Don’t get out there driving. Don’t get out there doing a lot of activities. This is a time to be cool.”

The reason is the orange-level ozone alert issued by the Mid-America Regional Council Monday.

“It’s another way of saying smog is bad,” Lee said. “Whenever there is particulate smog or a high ozone level, it’s hard for folks with breathing problems to breathe.”

You don’t have to tell the Julian’s.

“We’ve been through this before,” said Frank Julian, Lily’s father. “When it starts to get this hot, all the flags kind of go up and let you know that you’re supposed to be making sure that you’re inside and have your rescue med.”

His daughter plans to continue doing that and having fun in the process.