the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, what are the Ridgewood School system protocols for excessive heat for artificial turf and what would trigger safety measures?
1) What are the “school protocols” as it pertains to artificial turf temperatures?
2) What temperature thresholds trigger safety measures or modifications to practice and game schedules?
Ridgewood Public Schools follow the Heat Illness Prevention guidelines and require all coaches to complete the training course and associated exam provided by the NFHS every year prior to the start of their season. The course is designed to provide the fundamentals of a strong heat acclimatization plan and guidelines for limiting activities to account for changing environmental conditions and other contributing risk factors. These are not posted on our site as they are maintained and shared by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which advocates for high school athletics and performing arts programs. They also write playing rules, develop educational programs, and provide administrative support.
All of this information is used to determine if practices/games/events should be held earlier, delayed, or cancelled. For example, if the WBGT thermometer (see next question) reads 85 degrees, the associated chart indicates orange, which means that they can play on that surface for two hours, without a helmet, and must take a certain number of water breaks. These specifics are all sent to the coaches by the Athletic Director, often the night before an event/game, and quick reference cards with this information are also taped to the training room door, athletic director’s office, and at other locations where the athletes get ready for practice or a game.
3. How is field temperature monitored, and who is responsible for making safety-related decisions?
On days when the heat needs to be monitored more closely, Ridgewood Public Schools use a tool known as the WBGT, wet bulb globe thermometer, to take the temperature readings. The temperature is taken by administrators and/or coaches, depending on the event and time planned for the turf field. The results are shared with the other building administrators and coaches as appropriate. If the temperature reading results in a delay or cancellation, the affected individuals are notified by the school of the change in schedule.
To provide some additional clarity, a wet bulb thermometer measures temperature by wrapping a wet cloth around a thermometer bulb and exposing it to moving air. The evaporation of water from the cloth cools the thermometer. Wet bulb temperature simulates how the human body cools itself through sweat and is used to assess how effectively sweating can cool someone down.
4. Are there any plans to conduct regular turf temperature readings or explore mitigation strategies to reduce heat buildup?
The field temperatures are taken regularly during the fall and spring when temperatures are elevated. On any day when the reading is elevated but within the guidelines for continued play, we put out cooling stations, which include a canopy and 150 gallon tub filled with ice water. The team can also access additional ice, ice water, and squeegee buckets at any time.Heat build up can only be combated with a watering truck or using a different infill base.
5. How come only athletes are mentioned in the handbook update? Why not coaches, teachers and staff?
The page that you referenced/attached is from the Student handbook, the information is also in The Extracurricular Code of Conduct, also called the Ridgewood High School Department of Athletics Parent and Student Guidebook, which references “athletes”. However, the coaches and athletic staff all go through the training mentioned above in addition to other trainingkcs required for them to assume the role of coach. They also refer to the quick reference cards posted.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
To prevent excessive heat illnesses take out the existing artificial turf fields and stop installing new ones.
Someone should OPRA the numbers / instances of kids that require medical assistance when playing on these artificial turf fields for injuries.
You will be shocked how many times parents are called in to pick their child and take them to the hospital.
It’s a huge cover up!!!
My two boys played football right through from peewees to high school, and they always kept temperature of the field. Some coaches would be like what are you doing and I would say what the hell does it look like? I’m doing taking temperature of the field. I don’t need my kids Passing out, because you think you’re an NFL coach. I believe in safety first, not like some of these coaches just keep on pushing everyone without water, ice, and give them a chance to catch their breath. Then you wonder why parents get involved and punch out the coach. From my experience is a big difference in temperature from grass sod to plastic fields. Yes they look nice throughout the year. I will say that, but There there’s so many other health issues regarding that. So let’s stop bullshitting everyone and say that it’s not a health risk. Because it is. And if you don’t think it’s a health issue, give me a call. You know who it is, the man you know who the man is.
A known health risk (and not merely because of the temperature) and yet you still let your kids play on it all the way from “peewees to high school.” I don’t even think Darwin has an award for you.
Remember last year’s graduation ceremony where students were practically passing out left and right. Hours in the hot sun on hot turf. Turf that creates increased heat pockets that heat up to 180 degrees or more. Sure you can probably wet it down to cool it a small amount, but rarely is that ever done when games are place and that is a whole process and the heat doesn’t dissipate that quickly. It is a lose, lose situation for Ridgewood. As parents we need to say no to the plastic grass and make sure it never comes back. If the Ridgewood sports teams love turf so much, they can truck on over to Glen Rock.
Artificial turf is becoming like asbestos. Now that more is known about the health impacts it is starting to be banned.