Background
This policy provides a framework for San Jose State University (SJSU) Sports
Medicine staff and Athletic Department staff to address air quality concerns. This policy is intended to be a living, working document, continually reviewed and updated as appropriate, as the institution and/or best available evidence changes. The outline of this policy and procedure was primarily adapted from the Guidance Statement, Air Quality, released in 2018 by the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the Santa Clara County Public Health Advisory Update, Avoid Breathing Wildfire Smoke, in conjunction with California OSHA standards (8 CCR 5141.1). Any modifications and revisions in this policy/procedure that contrast from the outline in the above-named papers were made in conjunction with team physicians and are based on current available resources, new guidelines, and/or the patient population at SJSU.
Scope
This policy applies to all personnel who are associated with outdoor operations relative to
their assigned athletic department duties. All members of the San Jose State University Sports Medicine Staff will abide by the scope of their established professional practice. The Sports Medicine Staff is defined as Team Physicians and Certified Athletic Trainers. The Sports Medicine Staff are trained in the monitoring and appropriate interventions for air quality concerns.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to enhance, provide, and ensure the safety, health, and welfare of SJSU student-athletes and athletic department employees. This policy addresses monitoring and management of air quality. This policy and procedure are intended to guide patient care and safety decision-making. Medical conditions and specific medical situations, including air quality induced cases, are often complex and require health care providers to make independent judgments. These policies may be modified by practitioners to achieve maximal patient outcomes.
Air Quality
Unfortunately, fires in California and throughout the Pacific Northwest have effects
on the air quality in the Bay Area. Air quality issues, as measured by the National Weather Service Air Quality Index (AQI), may have effects on athletic practices, training, and/or competition. The changing wind patterns will create unpredictability and variability in the AQI readings, therefore, San Jose State University Athletics should continuously and attentively monitor the conditions during relative periods of threatening or dangerous air quality. The AQI provides real-time monitoring of the air quality, which is presented on a scale from 0-500, where 0 indicates no air quality problems and 500 indicates the most hazardous levels of air pollution. The AQI accounts for five different pollutants, including: 1) ground-level ozone; 2) particle pollution (also known as particulate matter); 3) carbon monoxide; 4) sulfur dioxide; and 5) nitrogen dioxide. Of these, ground-level ozone and particulate matter are the most common and most concerning pollutants for outdoor physical activity.
There are three reasons why otherwise healthy athletes are at special risk for inhaling pollutants. First, as physical activity increases minute ventilation, the number of pollutants that are inhaled relative to when the athlete is at rest are increased. Second, during activity, a larger proportion of air is inhaled through the mouth, which bypasses the body’s built-in nasal filtration system. Third, pollutants are inhaled more deeply and may diffuse into the bloodstream more quickly during physical activity. These risks are heightened in athletes with pre-existing pulmonary or cardiac conditions.
Air Quality Index
The chart below is the color-coding that was developed to describe air quality problems, commonly known as the Air Quality Index (AQI). Each section outlined in the procedure replicates the color-coding in the table.
Measurement
The standard measurement tool for San Jose State University Athletics is the air quality measurements conducted and posted by the National Weather Service Air Quality Index (AQI).
CEFCU Stadium (Simpkins and East Fieldhouse)
To access the AQI:
1. Visit https://purpleair.com
2. Take the average of the following Sensor locations surrounding San Jose State University.
a. Creekside Park
b. Margaret St.
c. 280 & 101 downtown
d. Best Sensor Ever San Jose
3. Conditions are updated in real time.
SJSU Main Campus (YUH and SRAC)
To access the AQI:
1. Visit https://purpleair.com
2. Take the average of the following Sensor locations surrounding San Jose State University.
a. Luna Park
b. Margaret St.
3. Conditions are updated in real time.
Personnel
The scope of this policy covers all student-athletes and athletic department employees. The Sports Medicine staff will be the primary decision-makers in regards to decisions for student-athletes. The determination of essential vs. non-essential duties for employees shall be reviewed on a situational basis as determined by the Athletic Director, Deputy Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities, and any other university personnel deemed necessary by this group.
AQI Interpretation
The following section outlines the AQI categories and management within each category. Please note that AQI is a fluid measurement that is constantly changing. Recommendations within each range are subject to change with real-time monitoring.
GOOD (AQI 0-50)
• Considerations: Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
• Management:
- No action needed
• Communication Plan: No action needed
MODERATE (AQI 51-100)
• Considerations: Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
• Management:
- Begin formal monitoring of the AQI.
- Begin surveillance of anyone in sensitive group. Athletes in this category have been identified as those with: asthma, sickle cell trait/disease, respiratory illness, heart or lung disease, etc. Exposure should be managed more conservatively for student-athletes with these or any pre-existing pulmonary or cardiac condition.
- At-risk individuals will be handled case by case.
• Communication Plan: No action needed
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS (AQI 101-150)
• Considerations: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The
general public is not likely to be affected.
• Management:
- Continue formal monitoring of the AQI.
- Consideration will be given for removing student-athletes categorized in the sensitive group.
- All other student-athletes should continue to be closely monitored for respiratory symptoms or difficulty.
- Any student-athlete experiencing symptoms relative to air quality concerns will be removed from participation in outdoor activity. Consideration will be given for physician referral if clinical exam warrants. The Sports Medicine staff has the unchallengeable authority to remove a student-athlete from outdoor participation for medical reasons.
- Facilities and Operations staff should begin to implement measures to ensure all doors, windows, etc. remain closed.
- Staff members that have heart or lung disease or in sensitive groups should consider discontinuing operations that take place outdoors.
• Communication Plan: A notification will be sent to select athletic department
administrators, coaches, and staff from the Associate Athletic Director for Sports
Medicine (or their assigned designee) announcing that formal monitoring of the AQI has begun.
UNHEALTHY (AQI 151-200)
• Considerations: Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
• Management
- Continue formal monitoring of the AQI.
- Within this range, outdoor activities should be shortened to 1 hour or less. Exertion should be removed by decreasing the intensity of activity to a walk through or moved indoors.
- Student-athletes categorized in the sensitive group should be moved indoors or other reasonable measures implemented that will decrease respiratory distress.
- Any student-athletes experiencing symptoms relative to air quality concerns will be removed from participation in outdoor activity. Consideration will be given for physician referral if clinical exam warrants. The Sports Medicine staff has the unchallengeable authority to remove a student-athlete from outdoor participation
for medical reasons.
- Facilities and Operations staff continue to implement measures to ensure all doors, windows, etc. remain closed.
- Staff should discontinue non-essential operations that take place outdoors. Essential operations that take place outdoors should not exceed 1 hour.
- The Athletic Director, Deputy Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, and the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities will work with University officials to determine the university’s response and management plan.
• Communication Plan: An notification will be sent to all athletic department administrators, coaches, and staff from the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine (or their assigned designee) announcing that the AQI has reached unhealthy levels and provide a management plan to staff.
VERY UNHEALTHY (AQI 201-300)
• Considerations: Health alert- everyone may experience more serious health effects.
• Management:
- The Santa Clara County Medical Director will most likely declare a Health Emergency when AQI reaches this level.
- Continue formal monitoring of the AQI.
- No outdoor activity including competition is permitted for student-athletes or staff.
- All indoor athletic department facilities have been vetted to ensure proper air filtering H-Vac systems are in place. Indoor activities may continue as planned.
- Provide direction to student-athletes regarding shelter options on campus if residence is in a location without proper air filtering H-Vac systems.
- Consideration should be given for sending all non-essential staff home.
- The Athletic Director, Deputy Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, and the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities will work with University officials to determine the university’s response and management plan. Discussion should occur to ensure essential indoor activities are not interrupted.
• Communication Plan: An notification will be sent to all athletic department administrators, coaches, and staff from the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine (or their assigned designee) announcing that the AQI has reached very unhealthy levels and all outdoor activity should cease.
HAZARDOUS (AQI 301-500)
• Considerations: Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
• Management:
- The Athletic Director, Deputy Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, and the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities will work with University officials to determine the university’s response and management plan. Discussion should occur regarding management of essential indoor activities.
- Full closure of the university will likely have been implemented.
- Provide direction to student-athletes regarding shelter options on campus if residence is in a location without proper air filtering H-Vac systems.
• Communication Plan: An notification will be sent to all athletic department administrators, coaches, and staff from the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine (or their assigned designee) announcing that the AQI has reached hazardous levels and all outdoor activity should cease.