Because of the many fires in California, we have had quite a bit of smoke in Contra Costa County. Wednesday we had a health advisory from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (http://www.sparetheair.org/about/five_day.htm). Walnut Creek’s reading was a very high 149, and it’s predicted to go even higher on Thursday – 153 - with the following warning:
Unhealthy – Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
ATOM’s question to you is: Should swimmers compete and train when the air is considered this unhealthy? If so, should any percautions be taken, such as shorter races (no 100 yard events) OR technique instruction instead of yardage during workouts?
Filed under: Uncategorized
Please feel free to comment. It’s worth a discussing.
As I was driving to last night’s meet., I wondered the same thing. I’ve developed a bit of a cough over the last 4 days, but it doesn’t seem to have effected my kids, probably since they have healthy lungs.
I wouldn’t have my kids out there if they had lung issues.
The key here is “prolonged” exertion. Swimming races of less than 5 minutes is not considered prolonged, nor is warm-up which is just that – warm-up not meant for exertion. Perhaps training should be curtailed but not racing.
I didn’t know about the high rating until I was driving from our swim lesson site to our meet last night at 5:30, and, I have to say, even as into health as I am because of all I’ve been thru the last 20+ years, I actually thought it was no big deal until I couldn’t see some of the hills around the county, two kids had asthma attacks before the meet last night and I woke up with a sore throat this morning (I’d taught swimming from morning til night yesterday.). All the “exertion” I did was walk the deck and was actually in the water for only two lessons. The rating today is higher than yesteday. Thus, I am shutting down our lesson facility today. The rating tomorrow is predicted to be a little better, with Saturday even better.
Craig, I agree the key is “prolonged” exertion. I’ll be glad when the air clears up. I can’t believe how many fires we have in Northern California. It’s even affecting Southern California.
Unassociated repy:
Please have swimmers watch Olympic trials. The images of watching professionals in action can have a profound impact on their short season.
http://www.usaswimming.org/usasweb/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=80&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en&ItemId=1990&mid=1707
The link above has the TV schedule. Thanx
Thanks for the OT viewing link, Sean. We’ll get it up in ATOM. So many are going from our county and it will be wonderful to watch them!
Debbie Johnson
ATOM/ATSA
It seems that the air may be pretty bad in China for the Olympics. Check out the article below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7478923.stm
thanks for the article gordon! that had some good info!