Campus Monitoring Air Quality, Mitigating Impact from Wildfires in Region

Summary of Situation: The Office of Environmental Health & Safety is currently monitoring air quality impacts to our campus due to wildfires in the Southern California. Facilities Planning & Management have implemented measures to help air quality in campus buildings by MERV-13 filter installments where supported and utilizing our campus systems to minimize any factors that may impact the normal operations on campus.

How does this affect me? Ongoing fires in Southern California may affect air quality into the unhealthy range (above 150 AQI). South Coast AQMD tracks the current air quality on its website and the AirNow website.

• “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (101-150 AQI) are people with lung disease such as asthma, children and teens, older adults, and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day. Choose less strenuous activities, shorten the amount of time you are outdoors and be active outdoors when air quality is better. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy.
• “Unhealthy” (151-200 AQI) sensitive groups and everyone else should avoid prolonged or heave exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality is better.

What do I need to do? If you are unusually sensitive to particle pollution, consider reducing your activity level or shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors. Employees who may be working outdoors should contact their HEERA manager for any questions or concerns about their outdoor activity. N-95 respirators are available on a voluntary basis to those affected employees. Voluntary mask request instructions can be found here. Further instructions may be provided by your manager as needed.

For any questions or more information, please contact: Environmental Health & Safety at ehs@cpp.edu.