[microbuns]

FIRST is very focused on safety - that's great. However at every regional we've attended, we couldn't help but notice that while we'd get in trouble for very minor stuff, we were being exposed for >8 hours to dangerous amounts of volume. At our latest competition (which was by no means the loudest one we've been at - just the most recent) we measured the volume to be around 100dB. According to our government (and this can vary place to place) the maximum allowed exposure to 100dB under their most lenient scenarios is 2 hours.

Now personally - I can live with the volume. However there are older mentors who just can't handle it. Sure, suggesting earplugs is okay, and it works for them, but unless you can get every kid to wear them, then you still have a safety risk. And if you managed to get everyone at the competition to wear them... Why didn't you just turn down the volume?