Safety Recommendations for Physical
Exertion and Outdoor Activities
during Air Pollution
PE Section, Education Bureau
5 October 2010
Content
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EDB Circular No.9/2010 (Revised)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dos & Don'ts for Arranging School Activities
An overview of safety recommendations
Guiding Principles
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Physical development is an essential learning experience
for facilitating lifelong learning and whole-person
development of students
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During pre-primary stage, physical play helps young children
build up physical fitness and good habits for healthy growth
During Key Stage 1-4 , PE curriculum instills in students
desirable attitude towards physical activities, habitual
participation in sports, and an active and healthy lifestyle
Safe and effective PE lessons can be achieved by detailed
planning, careful arrangement and thorough preparation
We should treat our students in a manner comparable
with that of reasonable and prudent parents taking care
of their children
Original Recommendations（EDBC003/1998 ）
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If the API or forecast is within the range of 101 and
200:
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to arrange for susceptible students (i.e. students with
heart or respiratory illnesses) to reduce physical exertion
and outdoor activities
these susceptible students should be advised to refrain
from participating in activities such as physical education
lessons and sporting events in sports day / swimming gala
to be held in the affected zone
New Recommendations （EDBC009/2010）
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If the API or its forecast reaches 101-200:
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schools should arrange for all students to reduce physical exertion
and outdoor activities
While schools may arrange for physical activities such as physical
education (PE) lessons, games days, athletics meets, swimming galas
and outdoor activities for their students, they should moderate the
intensity and/or duration of such activities
When students have symptoms associated with air pollution (e.g. eye
irritation, coughing, chest tightness, etc), they should stop physical
activities and preferably stay indoors. They should also seek medical
advice from registered doctors, if necessary
Students with heart or respiratory illnesses should not participate in the
abovementioned activities, and should reduce the duration of their
exposure to outdoor environment
Original Recommendations（EDBC003/1998 ）
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When API or forecast is within the range of 201
and 500:
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to arrange for all students to reduce physical exertion
and outdoor activities
Activities such as physical education lessons and sports
day / swimming gala to be held in the affected zone
should be suspended, cancelled or postponed
New Recommendations （EDBC009/2010）
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If the API or its forecast exceeds 200:
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schools should arrange for all students to avoid physical
exertion and outdoor activities
Schools should suspend, cancel or postpone physical
activities such as PE lessons (skill practice), games days,
athletics meets, swimming galas and outdoor activities.
Schools may however arrange for theoretical learning of
PE during PE lessons
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Application of the EDBC009/2010
Access to API information
General / Roadside API
Students with heart or respiratory illnesses
Arrangements for Student Activities under API between 101
and 200
Arrangements for API exceeding 200
Outdoor Activities
Use of LCSD and HD Sports Facilities
Others
Source： www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=2912&langno=2
FAQ（No. 9）
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Should PE lessons be arranged when API reaches 101 – 200?
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Yes, provided that the PE teachers moderate the intensity and/or
duration of PE lessons. For example, they may arrange for physical
activities of moderate to light activity levels, introduce more rest breaks
/ time, reduce the duration of activities, etc.
Schools should encourage students to adopt nasal breathing and to
drink adequate water before, during and after exercise.
When students have symptoms associated with air pollution (e.g. eye
irritation, coughing, chest tightness, etc), they should stop participating
in physical activities and preferably stay indoors; they should also seek
medical advice from registered doctors, if necessary.
Students with heart or respiratory illnesses should not participate in
practical sessions of PE lessons and should reduce their exposure to
outdoor environment when API exceeds 100.
FAQ（No. 10）
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Should games day, athletics meets, swimming galas, cross
country or road running race, etc be arranged when API reaches
101 – 200?
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Children should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities when
API reaches 101 – 200.
Schools should moderate the intensity and/or duration of such activities.
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For example, they may cancel long-distance events in athletics meets
(1,500m or above) / swimming galas (200m or above), and reduce the
number of heats leading to finals.
When students have symptoms associated with air pollution (e.g. eye
irritation, coughing, chest tightness, etc), they should stop participating in
physical activities and preferably stay indoors; they should also seek
medical advice from registered doctors, if necessary.
Schools may also suspend, cancel or postpone cross-country, roadrunning race, etc.
Students with heart or respiratory illnesses should not participate in such
activities when API exceeds 100; they may reduce the duration of their
exposure to outdoor environment.
FAQ（No. 11）
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Should schools organise ball games competitions when API
reaches 101 – 200?
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Yes, provided that the schools moderate the intensity and/or duration of
such activities. For example, they may reduce the duration of the
competitions, introduce more rest breaks / time, cancel extra-time after
draws, etc. Schools may also encourage students to drink adequate
water before, during and after exercise.
When students have symptoms associated with air pollution (e.g. eye
irritation, coughing, chest tightness, etc), they should stop participating
in physical activities and preferably stay indoors; they should also seek
medical advice from registered doctors, if necessary.
Students with heart or respiratory illnesses should not participate in ball
games competitions when API exceeds 100.
FAQ（No. 12）
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Should physical activities such as PE lessons (skills
practice), games days, athletics meets, swimming
galas, ball games competitions, etc be arranged when
API exceeds 200? ﹖
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No. Schools are advised to suspend, cancel or postpone
such activities when API exceeds 200
Schools may arrange for theoretical learning of PE during
PE lessons for their students
Theoretical learning of PE - Examples
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ETV (Education Bureau)
Physical Education Website (HK EdCity)
[email protected]（Department of
Health）
Learning activities through school libraries
Physical fitness evaluation and analysis
First aid skills and knowledge
Issues in PE – discussion, debate, roleplay…
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…
Should HK bid to host the 2023 Asian
Games?
Dos & Don'ts for Arranging School Activities
Health Advice to Children
Air
Pollution
Level
API
Very High
101-200
General API
Children are
advised to reduce
physical exertion
and outdoor
activities.
Roadside API
Children are
advised to avoid
prolonged stay in
areas with heavy
traffic and reduce
physical exertion
in such areas as far
as possible.
Recommendations to
Schools
PE lessons
 Games days
 Athletics meets
 Swimming galas
 Ball games competitions
 Outdoor Education Camps
 Outdoor activities
 School picnics
 Visits (indoor and outdoor)
 Flag selling activities
 Cross-country
 Road-running race
Source： www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=2912&langno=2
Dos & Don'ts for Arranging School Activities
Health Advice to Children
Air
Pollution
Level
API
Very High
201-500
General API
Children are
advised to avoid
physical exertion
and outdoor
activities.
Roadside API
Children are
advised to avoid
staying in areas
with heavy traffic.
Recommendations to
Schools
 Theoretical learning of PE
 Visits (indoor)
 PE lessons (skill practice)
 Games days
 Athletics meets
 Swimming galas
 Ball games competitions
 Cross-country
 Road-running race
 Outdoor Education Camps
 Outdoor activities
 School picnics
 Visits (outdoor)
 Flag selling activities
Activity arrangements under different weather
conditions
Swimming Galas, Athletics
Meets, Swimming Classes…
Tropical
Cyclone
Outdoor Activities
(usually conducted in natural
environment and are exploratory, challenging and
physically demanding in nature)
Stand-by Signal No.1：Continue,
but be aware of weather conditions
Strong Wind Signal No.3 or above :
Stand-by Signal No.1：
Cancel / postpone
Cancel / postpone
Rainstorm
Amber Rainstorm Warning：Continue, but be
aware of weather conditions
Red / Black Rainstorm Warning ：Cancel /
postpone
Thunderstorm
Air Pollution
Index (API)
Thunderstorm (Regional)：Cancel / postpone
（For outdoor facilities only)
API = 101 -200：All students reduce physical exertion and outdoor
activities
API = 201 or above： All students avoid physical exertion and outdoor
activities
An overview of safety recommendations
Get latest API
information
API below
100
API between
101-200
API exceeds
200
Maintain
Reduce
Avoid
physical exertion &
outdoor activities
physical exertion &
outdoor activities
• allocate adequate curriculum
time to PE
• maintain regular exercise
• increase intensity & duration
of physical activities
physical exertion &
outdoor activities
• moderate intensity/duration
of physical exertion & outdoor
activities
• monitor latest API information
• monitor students’ conditions
• Suspend, cancel or postpone
physical exertion & outdoor
activities
• Arrange for theoretical
learning of PE/visits (indoor)
Other EDB reference materials
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Safety Precautions in PE for HK Schools (1999)（under review）
 Safety Precautions in School Games Day （EDBC004/2001）
 Safety Precautions in School Swimming Galas, Lessons and Training
（EDBC001/2000B）
 Safety Precautions in School Athletic Meets, Lessons and Training
（EDBC004/2000B）
Curriculum documents for PE Key Learning Area (KLA)
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PE KLA Curriculum Guide (P1-S3) (2002)
PE KLA Curriculum and Assessment Guide (S4- 6) (2007)
Guide to the Pre-primary Curriculum (2006)
Guide on Outdoor Activities (2008)
School Administration Guide (2010)
Thank You!