Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

Due in part to the deteriorating cardboard-like floor stuff at the NJ Regional, I've been sick since Friday during the competition. A lot of my team members are sick and so is my family.

We basically inhaled bits and peices of the floor dust for 3 days straight, and by Saturday night I was spent out. I'm sure everyone at Trenton knows what I'm talking about.

Has anybody else had the problems/experience?

sorry if someone already posted the same topic.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

I know for a fact that a letter is in the works and either has been or will be e-mailed to FIRST with this topic at hand.

I didn't personally get sick, but the material the floor was made from should be adressed in the future.

The field crew spent a considerable amount of time cleaning every field element before it was packed up and I'm sure it's not 100% clean.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

that stuff would be masonite? over the ice rink below the floor?

they use something similar at the Canadian Regional in Toronto.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

if i remember correctly the ones at the Toronto regional has a layer of carpet on top of it

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

Is it the floor, or simply the fact that the flu is everywhere right now? http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weekly...es/usmap08.jpg

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

What was on the floor of the arena was 3 layers (2 in some places) The base layer was ice, on top of that in some places there was a heavy duty plastic tarp covering, and on top of that was a layered cardboard. The cardboard quickly wears out after they have a 63 team pit on top of it. After several hours of usage you get a thin dust all over the place (you can actually dust off all the robots) I spoke with Paul Kloberg about it at competition and he said that Sovereign Bank Arena is supposed to have a new floor some time between now and next year, hopefully this one will be better.

I wouldn't say that the venue caused your sickness, it probably was just 3 days of being pretty close to 3000 people, during a part of the year when people tend to be sick.

Feel Better!

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

Oh jeez, if it was masonite, no wonder you guys are sick:

http://www.australianhardboards.com....onite_MSDS.pdf

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

after a few days at BAE, I got the FLU on sunday. It's now wednesday, and I'm just starting to get better...Doesn't seem like it's all NJ.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

that and the incredible stress to your system from being engaged in a 3 day / 4 day trip like a FIRST regional.

Lack of sleep
poor eating / nourishment
high adrenaline levels
pressure to perform under adverse conditions
excessive noise

all these things will drop your immune system ability to ward off illness.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

I contracted a terrible cold at Trenton Regional and now have to suffer it while taking the HSPA's!

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

Hopefully they are getting something like this:

http://www.stageright.com/3rdLevel.php?c=4&p=19&l3=1

This is what we use at the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin over the ice for concerts and basketball. Its great stuff.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

"Polar Floor! Its so easy to install, even a girl can do it!"

(Dont shoot me - its not my website!) [Ken hides under desk anyway]

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

It is Homasote 'ICE DECK'. MSDS here:http://www.homasote.com/msds.pdf

Per manufacturer, the material is made from ground up newspaper and held together with a wax-type bond.

I have had a sore/dry throat and nausea since Friday(but it is getting better), and my daughter has been to doctor(and out of school), but we believe she has cold/flue.

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

Well, not sure if it was Sovereign Bank Arena/FIRST related or whatnot..but I've gotten the flu, which really sucks because I have to make up the HSPA (standardized exams for juniors in NJ) next week. :ahh:

Re: Who's Sick after NJ Regional?
 

Unless it is a dust-related illnesss or started Sunday or later, I would have trouble relating it to the regional because in general diseases are contracted long before they actually appear (I think...) I personally got sick yesterday, but it was my fault - I decided to spend 10 hours on a project, which turned out well but tired me out.