Who's Sick after NJ Regional?

[NeedMoreEngines]

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.

[Elgin Clock]

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.

[KenWittlief]

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

they use something similar at the Canadian Regional in Toronto.

[Vince lau]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

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

they use something similar at the Canadian Regional in Toronto.

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

[buss]

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

[Conor Ryan]

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!

[Swan217]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

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

they use something similar at the Canadian Regional in Toronto.

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

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

[Greg Perkins]

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.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by Conor Ryan

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.

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.

[Alex Minot]

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

[Ricky Q.]

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.

[KenWittlief]

"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]

[Dad1279]

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.

[nparikh]

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.

[Faith]

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.