Ithaca College Community,
Please be advised that Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) has announced that it has upgraded the poor air quality advisory for Tompkins County and surrounding areas to an AQI Health Alert, which will now extend throughout Wednesday, June 7, until at least midnight (12:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 8, 2023).
You can learn more about the rationale for this updated health alert here. Individuals can visit this link to sign up for email or text alerts from TCWH.
At this time, Ithaca College strongly advises that all individuals refrain from spending prolonged time outdoors to minimize the potential for harmful health impacts due to this poor air quality. Employees whose primary job functions occur outdoors will be contacted by their supervisors regarding how to proceed in their work assignments for Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Individuals needing to go outdoors are strongly recommended to limit strenuous activity. It is also strongly recommended that individuals continue to keep windows to their offices and residential spaces closed at all times.
For individuals seeking access to a space with circulated air conditioning, Ithaca College will be extending the open hours of the Campus Center to midnight (12:00 a.m. ET) on both Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 7.
High quality masks, such as N95 and KN95 grade masks, can be worn outdoors to help reduce the inhalation of fine particles present in the air. Ithaca College will provide free KN95 masks from its strategic stockpile to any individual in our campus community who would like one. These masks can be picked up at the Public Safety Satellite Office located in the Campus Center Lobby and the Circular Desk located on the Garden Level of the Peggy Ryan Williams Center.
Individuals who may be especially sensitive to the impacts of poor air quality, including those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, heart disease, and other related healthcare concerns, should be careful to monitor their condition and consider contacting their healthcare provider for further support. Students experiencing medical issues can contact the Hammond Health Center at (607) 274-3177 for further assistance. Please visit this link for more information on how to receive support in case of emergencies and after-hours care.
I encourage our campus community to continue to monitor ongoing developments to this air quality alert and take special care to prioritize your health.
Sincerely,
Samm Swarts
Assistant Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management