In January 2025, wildfires affected Los Angeles, causing many evacuations. People faced dangerous smoke that lowered air quality. Local hospitals prepared for patient increases but did not see a major surge.
A study found that many people used virtual health services. In the week after the fires, Kaiser Permanente members made many more virtual visits for breathing and heart problems. This shows that during emergencies, people often prefer online health care.
Difficult words
- evacuation — leave a place for safety or protection.evacuations
- affect — to have an influence on something.affected
- increase — to make something larger in amount.increases
- virtual — existing online, not in real life.
- emergency — a serious situation needing quick action.emergencies
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think people prefer virtual health care during emergencies?
- How can cities better prepare for wildfires in the future?
- What were some challenges people might face during evacuations?
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