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Air Quality Guidelines

These guidelines, created in consultation with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), provide a default policy to those responsible or sharing duties for making decisions concerning the cancelation, suspension, and/or restarting of practices and contests based on poor air quality.

A. Designate Personnel: Given the random behavior of wind and air currents, air quality may change quickly. Schools shall designate someone who will monitor the air quality prior to and during outdoor activities. While typically due to wildfires, schools need to also consider non-wildfire situations if the air quality is unhealthy.

B. Areas With Air Reporting Stations: The Air Quality Index (AQI) should be monitored throughout the day, and during an event, to have the best data possible to make informed decisions about conducting practices and competitions. School personnel shall review the AQI information for all regions throughout the state on either the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website at https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map, the Oregon DEQ app "OregonAir", or on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Now website at https://airnow.gov to determine if action is necessary (see chart below). Schools shall regularly review the AQI throughout events to assess deteriorating conditions.

C. Areas Without Air Reporting Stations: Given the random behavior of factors related to the calculation of the AQI levels in different areas of the state (wind speed and direction) member schools not near a reporting station should consult with local state and/or federal authorities to help determine the AQI level in your specific area. If air monitoring equipment is not available, member schools should utilize the 5-3-1 Visibility Index to determine air quality.

1. 5-3-1 Visibility Index: Making visual observations using the 5-3-1 Visibility Index is a simple way to estimate air quality and know what precautions to take. While this method can be useful, you should always use caution and avoid going outside if visibility is limited, especially if you are sensitive to smoke.
   1. Determine the limit of your visual range by looking for distant targets or familiar landmarks such as mountains, mesas, hills, or buildings at known distances. The visual range is that point at which these targets are no longer visible. As a rule of thumb: If you can clearly see the outlines of individual trees on the horizon it is generally less than five miles away. It is highly recommended that schools use pre-determined landmarks that were established on a clear day to determine their visual range.
   2. Ideally, the viewing of any distant targets should be made with the sun behind you. Looking into the sun or at an angle increases the ability of sunlight to reflect off of the smoke, thus making the visibility estimate less reliable.
   3. Be aware that conditions may change rapidly and always use the more conservative of multiple metrics (AQI, 5-3-1 Visibility Index, etc.).

D. Act: This chart will help determine the action needed based on the air quality in your area.

E. Additional Resources: Schools may also refer to OHA's fact sheet regarding School Outdoor Activities During Wildfire Events at https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/le8815h.pdf. NOTE: While OHA's guidelines do allow for light outdoor activities in the orange level, the intensity and duration of high school practices/competitions are not considered light activity.

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Lightning Safety Guidelines

A.       These guidelines provide a default policy to those responsible or sharing duties for making decisions concerning the suspension and restarting of practices and contests based on the presence of lightning or thunder.

B.       Proactive Planning:

1)       Assign staff to monitor local weather conditions before and during practices and contests.

2)       Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby safe areas and determine the amount of time needed to get everyone to a designated area.

a)       A designated safer place is a substantial building with plumbing and wiring where people live or work, such as a school, gymnasium, or library. An alternate safer place for the threat of lightning is a fully enclosed (not convertible or soft top) metal car or school bus.

3)       Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play:

a)       When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning.  Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safer location immediately.

b)       Thirty-minute Rule.  Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed * prior to resuming play.

c)       Any subsequent thunder or lightning* after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.

d)       When lightning detection devices or mobile phone apps are available, this technology could be used to assist in making a decision to suspend play if a lightning strike is noted to be within 10 miles of the event location. However, you should never depend on the reliability of these devices and, thus, hearing thunder or seeing lightning* should always take precedence over information from a mobile app or lightning detection device.

*At night under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate and uncertainty.

4)       Review annually with all administrators, coaches and game personnel and train all personnel.

5)       Inform student athletes of the lightning policy at start of season.

C.       For more detailed information, refer to the “Lightning and Thunder Safety” section contained in the NFHS Sports Medicine Handbook.

Additional Sports Medicine Resources

Oregon Health Authority / OSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee Information

Pre-Participation Physical Exam Forms

Infection Control

Sports Medicine and Medical Related Organizations

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