Several active wildfires in Los Angeles have led to at times “unhealthy” air quality on campus, Chief Campus Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman said in a briefing with the Daily Trojan Friday afternoon. Some on-campus events have been moved indoors as a preventive measure, according to a University-wide email from the Office of the President on Thursday.

Although the wildfires are not located near the University Park Campus or Health Sciences Campus, the University has continued to monitor regional air quality, the Office of the President wrote in Thursday’s email.

“The risk that we think about on campus more has to do with what we’ve seen as a period of poor air quality in Los Angeles,” Van Orman said. “For a lot of the last couple of days, we’ve had periods of time where it’s reached what we call the unhealthy [range]. In some parts of the city not near campus, it’s really within the very unhealthy range.”

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Van Orman encouraged students to monitor the United States Air Quality Index via the government’s AirNow website or the University’s Environmental Health & Safety website and follow recommended prevention measures.

“[AQI indicates] the risk for people being outdoors in those conditions and the likelihood that they’re going to experience respiratory symptoms,” Van Orman said. “If it is in that unhealthy range, the most important thing people can do is to avoid strenuous exertion when outdoors.”

Sensitive groups, which may include people with heart or lung disease, can be more susceptible to poor air quality. Students who experience exacerbations or worsening symptoms are encouraged to seek medical care, Van Orman said.

“We recommend that when [AQI] is unhealthy for sensitive groups, anyone with those underlying conditions take steps to reduce their exposure,” Van Orman said. “They could start experiencing symptoms such as cough, respiratory irritation, shortness of breath and, in some cases, that could trigger exacerbations of things like asthma.”

However, the higher AQI can indicate increased health risks for everyone, regardless of underlying health conditions.

“When [AQI] reaches unhealthy — which is where we’ve been over the last few days — that’s when we’ll become more concerned,” Van Orman said. “We recommend everybody take steps to limit their outdoor exposure when we’re in that unhealthy range because they can develop respiratory symptoms.”

During periods of poor air quality, people can also consider wearing masks, which is recommended if spending extended periods of time outdoors during high AQI, Van Orman said.

“[Wearing a mask] is an extra step of protection that people can take when we’re in those unhealthy or very unhealthy ranges,” Van Orman said. “The mask that’s recommended is either an N95 or KN95.”

During periods of high AQI, other recommended measures can reduce exposure to poor air quality indoors.

“To limit the entry of potentially the pollution … [practice not] leaving doors and windows open [and consider] turning on your air conditioning system, letting it run but not bringing in fresh outdoor air; keeping your doors and windows closed; when you’re driving in your car, having your windows rolled up,” Van Orman said.

On campus, Student Health services, including medical care, and Counseling and Mental Health resources remain available.

“We also know that people have been really impacted in ways that go beyond our physical health. This is devastating. We are hearing from many faculty, staff and students whose families may have lost homes, who may have been evacuated,” Van Orman said. “We absolutely have our mental health resources also available 24/7.”

The University created a Wildfire and Air Quality hotline at 213-740-6291 for questions and referrals to resources, including Campus Support & Intervention.

“If somebody can’t get back, or maybe they have underlying health conditions and they’re going to delay their return a couple of days, reach out to your faculty,” Van Orman said. “Everyone’s sort of taking the perspective that we want to be as flexible and supportive as we can be.”