Dear Campus Community:
A health advisory has been issued for the Bay Area due to the potential health effects of smoke from the Northern California wildfires. To help minimize the impact of this air pollution event:
- Stay indoors
- Do not prop open exterior doors
- Keep windows closed.
We have instructed our building control specialists to reduce HVAC systems at night, or turn them off completely to minimize the amount of smoky air from getting into the buildings. We are also running some systems on full return recirculation mode to minimize smoky air intake.
We also have N95 particulate dust masks available at the Student Wellness Center. We currently have 150 masks available and more will be available later today. These may be helpful to some individuals who are affected by the poor air quality.
We are doing what we can to reduce the impact of this air pollution event. Hopefully, the weather will change soon to improve the air quality.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department, together with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, has issued a health advisory warning with precautions for people to follow as outlined in their report and suggested here:
- Limit outdoor activities to avoid unnecessary exposure if you smell smoke
- Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside
- Reduce exposure to smoky air by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed, if possible
- If you cannot keep windows and doors closed due to high temperatures, seek out cooling centers in your area
- Stay tuned to local media for changes in smoke or weather conditions
For up-to-date air quality information you can also go to the Spare The Air website. San Jose State University’s Facilities Department together with the Environmental Health & Safety office will continue to monitor the situation.