PEI's chief public health officer is raising concerns about the use of compressed air horns in ice arenas.
After his office received written submissions on the issue, Dr. Heather Morrison sent a letter to Hockey PEI in December outlining the health risks associated with the use of such noisemakers.
“Compressed air horns can produce sounds of 100 dB or more,” the letter states. “When a person has prolonged, repeated or close exposure to decibels greater than 70 dB, it can cause hearing loss.”
Audiologists like Krista Campbell aren't surprised about the concern.
“This is actually a common comment that I hear as an audiologist regarding some of the sounds we have in our daily lives,” Campbell said. “It certainly comes down to noise levels at sporting events.”
In physics, sound is just focused waves of air pressure, she said. “What happens with something like an air horn is the pressure is very high, so the sound level is very high and it hits the eardrum at a hard level.
“If someone is frequently visiting an arena where these air horns are being used, it could cause some long-term damage.”
She said that she is happy that the issue has been brought to attention.
“We want people to have fun and go and cheer for their team, but there's a risk,” she said. “The more we are at sporting events or the longer we are there, the more important it is that we take some steps to minimize the risk.”
Ban on making noise
These days, air horns are banned at the island's two largest arenas: EastLink Center in Charlottetown and Credit Union Place in Summerside.
Since 2023, air horns have been banned in the last arena.
Air horns are already banned at the island's two largest arenas, Eastlink Center in Charlottetown and Credit Union Place in Summerside. Now the province's chief public health officer has sent a letter to Hockey PEI about the potential for hearing loss, suggesting even smaller rinks should be banned.
“It's something that's currently banned from our entertainment venue, that we don't welcome inside our venue,” said Tanner Doiron, events and communications manager for the city of Summerside.
He characterized the move as “an effort to create a more safe, welcoming, inclusive environment for all of our event-goers and fans.”
Many places in North America have banned the use of air horns, so the city of Summerside saw this update to its code of conduct as an “easy fix,” Doiron said.
But that doesn't mean it's always easy to implement.
For larger events, the city checks bags with security enforcement at the door. If they find an air horn, the person carrying it will be asked to put it back in their vehicle or surrender before entering.
This makes it harder to police the game as an official on the ice and ensures that the players can actually hear you communicating.– Tanner Doiron
But for smaller groups that are the normal daily users of the building, enforcement is more challenging, Doiron said.
He said arena user groups, including hockey associations, should inform their members and fan base of the rules and help keep air horns out of the facility.
Challenge to play the game
Doiron is also a referee and travels the country to officiate at various rinks. He said there are fewer and fewer horns, but when he hears them, it can be difficult — and not just in people's hearing.
“There have been some wild games I've officiated, how loud they can get,” he said. “It makes it harder to police the game as an official on the ice and ensures that the players can actually hear you communicating with them when the whistle is blowing.”
There's another effect that people don't think about, he added: “When the air horn goes off, it actually sometimes makes the players think it's a stoppage of play and it's confusing on the ice.”
Hockey PEI executive director Tami Lewis said Morrison's letter was sent to all minor hockey association presidents, council representatives and the executive director of Recreation PEI.
“Currently, there are no specific restrictions on Hockey PEI,” Lewis said in an emailed statement.
“We have shared the message with our members but if greater support for our organization is warranted, I certainly believe that our board will support the facility and the province with any message necessary for that.
“Hockey is obviously a big user of local facilities, and we hope that spectators are mindful of any rules or restrictions around those facilities regarding the use of noise makers.”
'100 percent preventable'
For those who find themselves in loud environments like sports arenas or concerts, there are ways to protect your hearing health, Campbell said.
“The quickest and easiest way to protect your hearing in any situation is to wear hearing protection. Therefore, you can prevent the unavoidable,” she said.
Ear plugs, ear muffs and noise-canceling headphones can be used as hearing protection, Campbell said, adding, “The best hearing protection is the protection you're going to wear and use.”
For the most effective protection, custom hearing protection molded to the shape of your ears is “definitely worth the investment,” she said. “Otherwise, I prefer ear muffs.”
While foam ear plugs are commonly used, they have a high failure rate because people often don't put them on properly, she said.
Another way to protect your hearing is to get away from loud noises whenever you can, whether it's moving seats or taking a bathroom break, Campbell said.
“We always joke that we like the beer tent at concerts because it keeps people away from the noise for a bit and it gives your ears a break.
“We know that noise-induced or loud noise-induced … hearing loss is 100 percent preventable,” she said.
