Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) ~ Advisory
In accordance with the Softball Alberta directive released today (May 22, 2024), due to the ongoing wildfires in the province and across the borders, the air quality from the smoke can put our athletes, officials and spectators at risk.
Softball Alberta directive: Air Quality ~ Smoke
An AQHI of 7 or higher means that play should be stopped immediately, either postponed until the AQHI falls into an acceptable range or rescheduled for an alternative date. If air quality is changing during athletic activity, be aware of the common symptoms of irritated eyes, coughing, and difficulty breathing in addition to the reported AQHI index.
An AQHI index of over 7 indicates a “high risk” from air pollutants.
An AQHI index of between 4 and 6 indicates ongoing AQHI air monitoring should be initiated in order to identify to the umpire, teams, and Tournament Supervisors, etc. if the index should reach 7 or higher. In practice situations, athletic activity should be adjusted through reduced intensity, reduced duration, and providing rest periods.
In order to obtain the current AQHI, go to
https://airquality.alberta.ca/map/
https://weather.gc.ca/mainmenu/airquality_menu_e.html
Softball Alberta recommends using the Alberta website as it lists more specific stations. Air quality can be variable within a localized region like the greater Edmonton area even though stations such as Edmonton, St. Albert and Strathcona County are in proximity to each other. The Alberta website information is also available as an app. Use the index value that is within one hour of the scheduled start time for the game or activity.
Stay aware & Keep safe out on the diamonds!
ELSA Executive
