New Orleans Sound Check

The New Orleans Health Department is engaging the public in a "Sound Check" campaign designed to protect the health of workers, patrons, and residents from hazardous sound levels. 

MusiciansBusinessesListeners

Protect Your Health

3 Steps for Musicians

1. When warming up, check that your volume is at or below 85 dB
2. Wear your hearing protection properly
3. Monitor your dB level during the performance

 

Protect Your Health!

3 Steps for Businesses

1. Face speakers towards interior of the venue and make sure that they are 10 feet away from exterior doors facing the street
2. Provide hearing protection to staff
3. Download the NoiseWatch sound meter app and use or turn your dB meter

 

Protect Your Health!

If the music is too loud you can:

1. Walk away
2. Turn down the volume
3. Wear hearing protection

Did you know?

In addition to permanently damaging your hearing, loud sounds increase health risks to the community by disrupting sleep in a way that can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, even if you are used to a sound.

How do I stay safe?

Tips to protect your ears from loud sounds

Know the sound level

Know the length of exposure

Keep track of how long you have been listening to any loud sound and follow the recommended time limits for how long to listen to that sound.

Position yourself

Avoid being directly in front of a loud sound source.

Wear hearing protection correctly

Invest in properly fitting ear plugs or covers. Check out these instructions on how to fit foam ear plugs.

See a hearing specialist

If you are employed in the live music industry, see an audiologist once a year.