Who's Sick after NJ Regional?

[Dad1279]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

I wasn't there, but it is extremely unlikely to have been Homasote. Unless it was really soft and kind of crumbly... Someone else up there in the thread suggeste Masonite, which is more likely. Homasote is an old product that isn't used much anymore.

But, yes indeedy, long term exposure to heavy concentrations of wood dust can be dangerous (mostly nasal and sinus problems), but a couple of days in the presence of Masonite dust isn't going to cause permanent problems for anyone, and won't cause real short-term problems for anyone who doesn't have allergies or asthma.

And OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It was a Homasote product called Ice Deck. I spoke to Homasote yesterday. http://www.homasote.com/id.html

No asbestos content, it is made of recycled newspaper. My concern is the amount of airborne dust. I still have a dry throat.

It is commonly used to cover ice, however, it should have been covered with carpet or a wood floor to keep it from deteriorating.

[Alekat]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

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

Try 6, one day getting there, 3 days competing, and two days coming back due to a snowstorm in the mountains. I'm not counting the food poisening I encountered the day I finally got back.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Dad1279

It was a Homasote product called Ice Deck. I spoke to Homasote yesterday. http://www.homasote.com/id.html

The Homasote I've seen has a very crumbly surface, which is why I shot my virtual mouth off. It's a lousy wear surface, and I'm not surprised it disintegrated. I made the mistake of cutting some with a 12-inch miter saw one time -- little paper dust everywhere. It's as bad as MDF dust.

[galewind]

I got sick, too. Started off as having no voice, moved to heavy chest cold, then achy-flu-like symptoms.

I attributed it to a low immune system due to stress and overworking before the regional, combined with catching a bug from one of the 3000 people there.

That floor stuff, though likely not a contributor, was pretty bad. It wasn't even properly secured!!! It got mashed against itself pretty hard. Our pit corner station didn't even have full covering! I almost slipped on ice once when I mis-stepped. Thank God the boards were there.

[felipe.tonello]

I got sick too..
It's too cold there!!
30 F... brrrrrr

Here the normal temperature is like 90 F heheheh..

But the good thing is I saw snowww... a little bit but I saw... very nice!!

[NeedMoreEngines]

Well yeah I know I caught something from someone, but the floor was the beginnning of it. Saturday and Sunday I was coughing so hard and coughing up stuff that looked like all the dust that had gathered in my lungs.

to that person who said there was a letter going out...THANK YOU

[Alex Burman]

Originally Posted by Alex Minot

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

me too. Thankfully i just finished the science field test and now I'm all done

[Corey Balint]

About half of our team is down with some sickness, we've had kids out all week because of it. Ive had a small little cough/sniffle all week, but it seems to have developed more now. UGH.

[KathieK]

A bunch of us who were at BAE also got sick last week in time for UTC, and so the germs spread. Yes, I was careful about washing my hands frequently, etc. For fun, someone ought to spread out a bunch of petri dishes or something all over a regional and see what you bring home with you. Or not.