Weather | Safety | Planning

AirNow.gov
AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy.  

Air Quality and Outdoor Activity Guidance for Schools
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Guidance for Schools During Wildfire Smoke Events

Cold Weather Safety Information

NYS Office of Emergency Management 
Contains safety resources for extreme weather (lightning, heat, cold).

National Weather Service Windchill Chart
Provides an interactive chart that can be used to determine wind chill based on temperature and wind speed.

Cold Weather Safety for Children - HealthyChildren.org

Winter Weather|CDC

Frostbite - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic  

Hot Weather Safety Information

FAQs about Extreme Heat
Provides an overview of heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat rash with prevention strategies for children and athletes.

Heat Illness Prevention 
The OSHA Health Illness Prevention campaign educates employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat.

Heat Wave/Heat Index
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides information on the health dangers of heat, how to prepare, the danger of leaving children in cars, and additional information from the American Red Cross.

National Integrated Health Information System 
Heat.gov serves as the premier source of heat and health information to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat by providing planning, education, and action tools. 

Recognizing, Preventing, and Treating Heat-Related Illness
Web-based training on heat-related illness to promote the development and implementation of guidelines including an emergency plan by coaches, athletic trainers, students, school nurses, parents, and teachers.  

Weather and Athletics

New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA)

NYSPHSSA Handbook

NYSPHSAA Safety and Research Page 
Includes resources for heat and cold on heat index and guidelines, wind chill procedures, early season acclimatization, and thunder and lightning.

Lightning Safety Tips National Weather Services 
Contains safety info for groups/venues, model lightning safety plans, and resources for educators 

National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement on Exertional Heat Illnesses
Revised recommendations on prevention, recognition, and treatment of exertional heat illnesses including exercise-associated muscle cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and exertional heatstroke.    

Climatic Heat Stress and Exercising Children and Adolescents 
Provides updated guidance on preparation, modifications, and monitoring for safe participation in outdoor sports/physical activities in warm to hot climatic conditions.

Resources for Families for Heating Assistance

NYS Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Provides assistance to low-income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. This includes assistance for both heating and cooling. HEAP Hotline: 1-800-342-3009.

See Also:

Page Updated 6/6/23