Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

When reading the OP's title of this thread and then reading the first post, it dawned on me how dangerous it can be to ignore or avoid safe practices for staying healthy. My first thought was to check the awesome resource, NEMO. I didn't find what I was looking for and decided to write up a white paper on this topic. This thread is created for folks to contribute suggestions for how to stay healthy during the build and competition season. It can also include tips for keeping up with school work/homework and other outside demands.

Thanks in advance for any helpful contributions that you make to the thread.

Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Suppose I'll start:

definitely make sure to have a water bottle or some such handy, especially when you're working. I understand that when you're in the middle of something, it can be hard to get up and use a drinking fountain, so if you have a bottle of water next to you it's convenient and you should have no excuse not to drink something when you're thirsty. remember, it only takes a couple hours to become dehydrated, even if you're sitting in an air conditioned room.

if you're working in the shop, or even at the computer, get away from the work every hour or two and take 10-15 minutes to rest. it'll help you keep focused, and it helps reduce the strain on your eyes if you've been working code or web for a while. this can especially be helpful if you've been hitting a dead end and aren't sure where to go.

I'll go ahead and stop there, so other people can have a chance to contribute ;)

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

SAFETY GLASSES!!!

This is one of those things that's easy to blow off until it's too late. At the very least you can pretend to be safe by wearing safety glasses in any videos you publish.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

SLEEP.

You might think you can be effective without enough of it, but you won't be.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Although it might not be possible for every team member, or every school, I would advise going to the gym for 10-15 minutes before you start during the build season. You don't need to do any major weight, or speed on the treadmill, just something to get your heart rate up and keep you healthy.

Our school has a weight room right down the hall from where we do most of our work during the season, and for the past two seasons, I have been going down there right after school and running a half mile or so and doing some mild lifting. Nothing very strenuous, just to keep my blood pumping! :p

Like I said, I understand that some kids cannot do this, but if you can, its only 15 minutes. You can make that up by leaving from dinner early!

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Jared picked the # one --- Sleep.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Do any teams make any efforts to underscore the importance of healthy practices? Examples might be - posters in the shop areas. Team videos. E-mails to students and parents from lead mentors? Do any teams encourage students to talk with their teachers about their classes and the build season so teachers can work with the students and help support their efforts? If yes, then what are some of the examples/practices?

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

In my college's competition teams, there used to be no curfews, lab open 24/7 or so (under proper circumstances), and that sort of thing. After some various non-healthy stuff, a new rule was added: The lab closes at 2 AM and remains closed until 7:30 AM, every night. Health and some grades improved a bit. In other words, a hard curfew.

Have parents bring in a healthy dinner a couple nights a week. Lunch works too.

If you don't have access to water, bring in a case or two of water bottles and a marker to identify who they belong to.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

One of my former teams best practices was that each student was responsible for bringing at least one dinner during build for the whole team. This pretty much guaranteed us pasta or casarole every night, but usually it was a balanced meal.

The importance of taking days off cannot be stressed enough. I have personally been burnt out, and it really does damage to the whole robotics experience for you and everyone around you. At least one night per week should be taken away from the team (your parents might want to see you occasionally too).

Most of what has been mentioned here is also an essential part of surviving University Engineering programs. FIRST is a really helpful trial run in that respect.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Keep track of when your schoolwork is due. Know when your tests are, and how much time you will have for homework per night, and plan out your homework load accordingly. If you get assignments in every class, due the next day...skip robotics. If you can't be spared for one night in the shop (which should not be the case, ever, but it always seems to happen at least once per season), at least leave early.

If you are part of the CAD, animation or programming team and/or are staring at a computer for long periods of time, take frequent breaks. Your eyes will not appreciate being burned out when you have to take notes in class the next day. Trust me...it hurts.

Take naps. Sleep for at least 10 minutes when you get home from school, but no more than an hour. It has been proven that short naps at the right times are actually very beneficial. You will feel a lot better when you wake up. Showers can also help with feeling refreshed and energized.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

This. I was specifically instructed by my boss that I am not to sit and work for more than 2 hours at a time. I have a nasty habit of obsessing over a problem and ignoring everything else. Since obeying that rule I've found that working 45 minutes and taking a 15 minute break actually makes me more productive. Get up, get the blood flowing, talk to someone. Lately I've just taken to going for a stroll around the building.

As for other advice, I just keep remembering where my priorities are. Health > Family > School > Job > Hobbies/Friends.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Here's a little message I put out to our team every year before we start build season. I hope it helps.

Enjoying Build Season 2011!
Below are a few suggestions that will help you enjoy build season and be a productive team member.

1) Remember that your coaches are here to help. Please see us if you have any concerns. Do not let your problems build up. You are not bothering us! We understand that even in the best of circumstances, there will be issues.

2) Remember that you are on a TEAM! That means not just helping others, but also asking for help if you are in need. We are here to support each other.

3) Care for each other like a family. Help each other and watch out for each other in the shop and when we travel.

4) Listen to each other and COMMUNICATE. Express your concerns, share your ideas and let others know your needs. Remember that your coaches and teammates are listening.

5) Take care of yourself. Eat, sleep, and relieve your stress. Taking care of your mind and body will make you a happier more productive member.

6) Take care of your school work. Prepare yourself for build season by organizing your school work and personal schedule. Being organized will help you make it through with flying colors.

7) Talk to your family about your plans each week and make sure that your plans match with theirs.

8) Do your best at every job, no matter what it is. Doing your best and feeling accomplishment will give build season meaning, help you connect with your teammates, and make it fun.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

At competition...
1. Wash your hands frequently.
2. Keep hands and fingers out of eyes, nose and mouth.
3. Wear the safety glasses, besides being cool they actually do something.
4. Repeat #1.
5. Carry a personal squirt bottle of hand sanitizer and use it in between #1's. (This is aimed at inspectors and other volunteers as well.)
6. Don't work tired. If you have time to do something over, you had time to take some rest.
7. Be aware of others when handling the robot, power tools and soldering irons.
8. Keep your mind on what you are doing. Put the phone away and don't talk to others while working!
9. Watch to insure that your team mates and those around you follow these as well.
10. Think like a UL Safety Adviser before they see you.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Don't be afraid to take a day off.

Sometimes taking a day off to get away from it all is the difference between being burnt out and fresh for when your team needs you most.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

less "best practice" and more "signs to watch for," but I thought I'd list a few signs and symptoms to watch for as well, since sometimes it's hard to tell if there's something wrong until it's bad

Sleep Deprivation:
Irritability
Tiredness
Socially Inept (more so than normal:p )
Reduced ability to handle stress
Memory loss
Bad concentration
Strange appetite changes (typically either being hungry all the time or a loss of appetite)

Dehydration (2% of water lost):
Thirst
Loss of Appetite
Dry Skin
Skin Flushing
Dark Colored Urine
Dry Mouth
fatigue or Weakness
Chills
Head Rushes

5% lost:
Increased heart rate
Increased respiration
Decreased sweating
Decreased urination
Increased body temperature
Extreme fatigue
Muscle cramps
Headaches
Nausea
Tingling of the limbs

if you hit the 10% mark, you'll probably know there's something seriously wrong anyway given most of the symptoms (spasms, vomiting, racing pulse, seizures, etc), and your best course of action at that point will most likely be to get immediate medical attention

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

The thing I like to do with my team during the build season is to have a little non-robot related fun (aka: outdoor activity).

We have a grassy area right outside our lab (which is actually pretty funny considering we are smack dab in the middle of a city) and we will play games of frisbee, wiffleball, football or whatever it may be every now and then. On long days where we've been in the lab for hours already after working extremely hard throughout the week, its nice to blow off some steam outside.

Outside of that, just be reasonable with the team. As important as it may seem at the time, try to put whatever task you are doing in perspective and realize its just a robot. Take a team break to get lunch so no one feels left out if they go to eat. Keep bottled water in the lab and sell it for 50 cents or so and actually raise some money for the team in the process.

Just keep it all in perspective, theres no reason for anyone to hurt themselves because of robotics.

-Brando

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

These have been mentioned already, but my three biggies - sleep, drink, wash hands.

At competitions water fountains are few and far away - they do want you to buy bottled water of course. So bring an empty water bottle with you, and fill it up at the first spot you can (even in the sinks in the restrooms - unless posted, that water is fine to drink). It saves a lot of money and the environment. And you can buy some nifty FIRST water bottles too - I like the ones you can clip to your belt.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Something worth mentioning (which my cross country coach stresses HEAVILY at the beginning of and throughout the season):

You will know how hydrated you are by looking at your pee. I'm not kidding. Clear/very light yellow is a sign that you are well-hydrated. Dark yellow means that you are not hydrated enough. In the middle means that you probably should be drinking more water (or other liquids, though water is best). You should NOT be peeing Mountain Dew.

Brown or cloudy urine is bad. Drink more, see if anything improves over a few days. If it doesn't, talk to your parents and most likely go see a doctor.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

You're quite correct here, though I would highly recommend seeing a doctor sooner if it's brown, as this can be a sign of any of a number of medical conditions, including bleeding in the kidney(s), ureter, or bladder, copper poisoning, a serious muscle injury, or a variety of liver conditions. The need for medical attention further increases if you exhibit other signs of illness (the most prominent being a fever, but flank or abdominal pain and/or a pain or burning sensation while urinating are serious indicators as well, besides being less vague indicators of something serious)

(By the way both of my parents are involved in medical in some form, so I've heard some odd stories of small things blowing up, so while I don't want to come off as overly cautious or paranoid when it comes to this sort of thing, this is a more unusual symptom and shouldn't be overlooked, especially if it's in conjunction with the other symptoms I've mentioned)

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Anyone have any comments about running or horse play in the shop/work area/competition venue?

Use of cell phones when working?

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Horseplay: OUTSIDE! Can't be stressed enough. Get out onto grass, snow, gym mats, mud, whatever, but don't do it in the shop. Too many things can go wrong in too many ways.

Running: Not in the work area, but if you really need to hurry, a fast walk until you're in a safe area, then a slow run, could be appropriate.

Cell phones while working: Get to a stopping point, stop, and make the tool safe before you answer the phone. If driving while on the phone is dangerous, milling/lathing/hammering/holding/sawing/driving screws/running motors while on the phone is even more so, not least because now you're doing it with one hand.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Don't run in the shop/competition area. Last year at Kettering we had a person fall; they were removed on a stretcher. Why? Because they were running.

Cell phones are great technology but please leave them out of the shop. If you are talking on them head into another room or into the hall way. If you are texting put the thing away if you are in the shop. In the shop you need to pay attention to what is going on.

As for using cell phones during meetings, use common courtesy. If it is your family I will always understand, if it is your SO... not so much.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

How about music? Tunes through a stereo? iPods/MP3 players?

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

If you MUST listen to that sort of thing, one ear only and make sure--and I mean 200% certain--that the cord is not going to get caught! Under a shirt, taped to the shirt, but not out freely!

Now, a full-shop stereo, not so bad as long as the volume is kept reasonable and the music is something that pretty much everybody likes.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Ear plugs for competitions - is that one of the items on the checklist for packing for the team? Does the team provide them and does it provide them for others: guests/visitors/teams?

Long hair - guidelines? Word of mouth, never mentioned, or well known?

Shoes/apparel for travel/competition/working in the shop?

How do teams who compete in other areas of the world that have different climates than they are accustomed to, prepare for travel and dressing for the weather?

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Make sure you eat a balanced diet!

My roommate knew someone in college who got scurvy (no joke!) because they didn't consume enough vitamin C.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

I don't know many teams who provide ear plugs for guests/visitors, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. While I usually don't notice that the music is unnaturally loud (my ears are accustomed to loud drums and cymbals, so volume doesn't bother me), I know that many adults find it very annoying.

Long hair should always be tied back...always. If it is VERY LONG hair (bust length or longer), I suggest tucking it into the back of your shirt to prevent it from swinging over your shoulder or under your arm.

Shoes: Close-toed, close-heeled. Visitors walking through the pit with, say, Birkenstocks, may be fine, but those working in the pit or in the shop NEED closed heels. Crocs do not count for anything other than great shower shoes.

Even if you're in Hawaii, I would personally not find shorts to be appropriate in the pit or the shop. Shorts are dangerous when there's a chance of something hitting your leg, as there often are when working around machines (even a metal chip from a drill press can hurt if it flys at you just right). I know that others have different opinions on that (especially those who build in warm weather), but that is just mine.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

While most team members are used to the noise, many visitors have asked for them, especially if they have kids. We definitely make sure to bring them along to all competitions (and they're available to anyone).

I'd disagree only because it's more painful than anything. Chips in the eyes and other sensitive places is both painful and dangerous, hence the use of safety glasses, but chips hitting your arms and hands isn't a big deal besides any minor pain, and I'd venture to say that's about the same for legs.

Cell Phones are for when they aren't distracting you from anything else, nor bothering those around you. Avoid use during meetings, while around people doing things needing focus (programming, machining, etc.), while doing things needing focus. Texting is more generally okay as long as you're out of the way and not doing anything (even walking).

Tunes: Don't let them distract you. Reasonable volume, so you can hear what's going on around you (if a fire alarm goes off...). I know I work better with less noise, but that's more a personal opinion. I rather like a 'shop stereo' unless it's annoying or annoyingly loud.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

These are not team rules, but ruled implemented by my parents:

Academic Health: If I have any missing assignments (my district allows to check grades online), then I can't go to robotics until its turned in. I hate missing robotics more than I hate doing homework.

Sleep: If I can't/don't wake up in the morning and as a result either miss my bus/am late to school, then I can't go to robotics/have to leave early because I need more sleep. I hated this rule so much, but its reasonable.

Team Rules:
-Hair/safety glasses- already been covered.
-No loose clothing
-If what your doing can possibly hurt anyone in anyway, then you shouldn't do it.

We encourage students to each lunch on long days and have team-lunch time. We do the same for dinner time and parents often will bring in small snacks for the team to eat as well. We have had little-to-no incidents of students getting hurt for reasons other than "I grabbed something that was hot/moving/etc. without thinking" (or similar to) (by the way, friction creates heat, and heat can burn thumbs) and so we never had to really worry about creating rules to encourage healthiness/remind team-members to eat/drink.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

One of the areas I was thinking about with this question was the warm weather competitors traveling to and competing in the cold weather competitions.

If you think southern folks drive funny in snow and icy conditions, you should see how some of us dress in said conditions. In the north, heavier coats and sturdier footwear would be wise recommendations but how do teams get that word out and how do they let teams know that additional costs will be incurred? That's a couple of my questions regarding that question.

Also, any suggestions/best practices for having team members notify the lead mentor of special conditions/needs such as required medications, allergies/asthma, or family situations to be aware of during travel?

Thanks for all the contributions in the thread.

Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Typically, you'd have that on any medical releases. Somewhere in said medical releases (which most schools would probably require to be on file), there's usually a space to put special considerations--meds and dosing schedule, allergies and stuff, and other similar things.

Then you just have to alert the lead mentor that such things exist and are recorded on the medical release.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Who would be the 'you'?

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Students on school-based teams will often have this information already on file with the school. Need to check on privacy policies in place for each team.

I would have a 5-10 interview privately with every student on the team and this information would go on a large index card. These cards were private, but would travel with the team in case of emergency. Emergency numbers. Medications. Health issues. Allergies. Home life situations the student felt comfortable sharing. I used to be a school nurse (but wasn't in my capacity with the team.)

This is how I discovered one year that 11 languages were spoken on the team.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Presumably a parent of the affected student. Possibly the student in question.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Jane,
Meds are handed over to the lead teacher on any travel event in original containers. Students with inhalers are allowed to keep them with them as well as epi pens and diabetic meds that are needed for immediate response. The teacher keeps a folder with all pertinant info, travel and medical parent authorizations, and any other special needs with them on the trip. It makes for a bulky backpack but it is the prescribed way for our district.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Avoid excessive caffeine consumption. While caffeine will mask the effects of sleep deprivation, excessive consumption has negative effects on work performance.

My team likes to be called the Mountain Dew Maniacs, Dew and energy drinks go hand in hand with the build season, but we have had to limit their consumption at times when we've notice a decline in safe working practices. Sugar and caffeine in large quantities isn't good for safety in the workshop.

Also, I really try to discourage my drive team for relying on sugar and caffeine at a competition, when you come down from their effects your driving performance really suffers. (you can never find a Dew when you really need it. :p )

Don't get me wrong, I love my coffee (and Dew!) just as much as anyone else, but you have to know your limits.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Personal aside:

Thanks for this post! I couldn't agree more. If a team member is hopped up on caffeine, he or she can be more of a detriment to the precious time allotted for that day that should be used wisely in the build process. The crash isn't helpful either. Apply that to the work that has to be done outside the shop afterward and it isn't pretty: homework, home responsibilities/demands, etc. Also, what is it teaching anyone - using stimulants to get through the process?

Thank you!
Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Art,
We had a driver one year consume so much that he was not able to drive. We had to pull him for a day while he secreted all of the caffeine. He couldn't control the robot and kept driving into stuff.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

I'm fixin' to put this into a white paper format. If anyone is interesting in helping me proof it, please send me a private message. If anyone has anything that you want to add, please do sometime before Friday of this week.

Thanks for all of the thoughtful posts in this thread,
Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Jane there was one I have I don't believe was mentioned.

It was not a health issue but does help you mentally.

If you have other activities going try not to miss them for Robotics all the time.

For example, I'm an active Boy Scout, and we meet on Wedsday nights the same time Robotics meet. I had decided for about most of Build season to skip those meeting and go work at the shop. While it was great I was in the shop another day, I fell behind in my advancement with Scouts, and felt our of the loop.

About 2 weeks before ship, my Dad made me miss robotics to go to scouts. While It wasn't the complete rest others mentioned, it got me away from the shop, let me rest my mind, and the next day when I returned to the shop, I didn't feel as stressed, and was ready to go and and get the job done.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Something I have to do - If you are becoming aggravated, angry or something is getting on your nerves, step away from it for a few minutes and take a breather. Lord knows I've gotten many cuts on my hands because I was a little too frustrated with how metal pieces weren't fitting together.

Getting flustered is not mentally healthy. I know our workshop can get really warm and it sets tempers up. Step away from the conflict, clear your mind and go back at it with a less stressed attitude - that is until that *#&%ING PIECE OF METAL CUTS YOUR HAND AGAIN GAAAH!

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

I've had a couple of thoughts regarding safety in the pits since volunteering as one of the safety advisors at the Alamo Regional.

There is a significant change in how many of the teams behave in the pits on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. It is a drop in energy that makes them more careless and less aware of their surroundings. Seriously.

There were teams who kept up their momentum and stayed on top of their game. I don't know what their secrets are, except that they conducted themselves in a professional and safe manner during the entire competition and apparently knew how to counter the tiredness/energy drain, efficiently.

I also noticed the same thing in the team support - the parents. There were teams whose parents were maintaining and supporting the teams, efficiently and wisely. There were parents who were exhausted and not helping as wisely or efficiently as they could have been. Again, I don't know the secrets behind the efficiency vs. the exhaustion and careless actions that were prone to happen.

To help counter the exhaustion, it might be wise to talk to the team about the drain of the 3 days and to take precautions as they move into Friday and Saturday to pay closer attention to what they are doing as they are doing it - and to stay energized by food and water.

Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

In 2005 at the Championship in Atlanta the BeachBots were a top seed in our division. On Friday night we had a meeting to work out a picklist and strategize for the next day.

I think it was around 10pm when the team was dismissed and sent to their rooms. They went with a gentle word from our fearless leader in theior ears. It went something like this: "You have worked hard all year and you are one of the best teams out there. But there are a lot of teams out to beat you as well. If you stay up all night, are you going to be energetic or have the fast responses required to win this thing? Think about what you really want."

Must have worked. The kids were pretty chipper, unlike most teams, and we took home some pretty big trophies.

What I like best about his was the kids chose what to do. The adults just reminded them of potential consequences.

Getting sufficient rest will help deal with most other problems you might have.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

I'm beginning to think you can read my mind, Chris. Just be warned, I think in typos, too, and the editing process can be totally insane.

Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Did you ever turn this into a white paper? I remember PMing you about it, but never had any real follow up.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

I didn't do any further follow up, Kim. I put it in a rough draft form and then got *stuck* because of another group funded by a grant, I believe, that is doing something along these lines that is connected to FIRST. I wasn't sure whether to move forward with it or just leave it.

Suggestions? Basically, I'm confused and don't know whether to go ahead and write the white paper or not.

Jane

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Just to comment on one of the recent discussions in this thread:

The thing I do to make sure my energy is up for all 3 of the longest days of my life is to get plenty of sleep for the entire week before the competition, not just Friday night. Having a good night's sleep for 3 or 4 days in a row will really boost your mood and keep you energized. Also, Red Bull. Red Bull helps. A lot.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

This is my biggest beef with the FIRST policy of not bringing food to the competitions: In some sports arenas, all they have is hot dogs, candy and chips. That's fine for a crowd that comes for a few hours to see a game. It's not good at all for people who will be there for three long days. I object more to the "variety" of "food" than I do to the inflated prices. A hot dog for lunch one day is a treat, but not for three days in a row!

Then, even though you're not allowed to bring in your own food, the concessions are closed well before the end of the day. For the two or three longest, most physically demanding hours of the day, when many people could really use a nutritional boost, there is nothing. One year, even the vending machines sold out of everything except chewing gum.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

It is the venue policy I believe unfortunately, so please do not be angry at FIRST for these attempts to profit off of a program to promote STEM. At Traverse City District Competition food is freely allowed in, which takes place at a highschool. Maybe attempting to push FIRST to try and insist on allowing food to be brought in by team members participating in the competition.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

Most venues rely on the profits from food sales. If FIRST allows food to be brought in, the amount FIRST has to pay to the venue will increase, which will be passed on the teams in some form.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

I know FIRST may have to bow to some of the venues' policies, and profits need to be made. I also know attempts have been made to upgrade the food. But FIRST seems to post the same "rules" regardless of whether it's a commercial venue, or a taxpayer-supported school. There remains the question of health. If the city of Los Angeles can pass a law banning new fast-food restaurants in parts of the city because of health concerns, why can't they control what goes on in their public venues? I don't know if Long Beach, CA has also gone the "Government Nanny" route, so maybe they're still supportive of free enterprise. At least last year, there was decent food available, even if the price was high.

By the way, does anyone care to address the concerns I expressed in my second paragraph? It seems to me that the concessions are losing a chance to increase profits.

In Arizona, they are officially allowing people to bring in a bottle of water (up to 1 liter per person). Since the weather is forecast to be warm, it would be a good idea to bring water.

Re: Best Practices For Staying Healthy During Build & Competition Season
 

For 7 years the Chesapeake Regional was held at the US Naval Academy. Although FIRST posted the official lingo, the planning committee communicated with all the teams stating they were welcome to bring in their own food into the pits as long as they continued to clean up. It was a great perk.

The event is now held at the Baltimore Convention Center and we are back to all the rules and concessions.

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