1984

Προς Προπονητές και Παράγοντες:

Παρακάτω στο πόστ θα δείτε τις ελάχιστες οδηγίες που δίνει η FISA για όλους τους συμμετέχοντες στην κωπηλασία. Δυστυχώς, δεν έχω τον χρόνο και την δυνατότητα να τις ανεβάσω μεταφρασμένες, αλλώστε αυτό δεν είναι δική μου δουλειά μου αλλά της ομοσπονδίας.

Ο τίτλος για τους νεότερους και γι΄αυτούς με ασθενή μνήμη παραπέμπει στο παρελθόν και θυμίζει το τραγικό δυστύχημα της άνοιξης του 1984, όπου 2 αθλήτριες του ΝΟΙ πνίγηκαν στην Παμβώτιδα. Φυσικά για θέματα ασφαλείας υπήρχαν και τότε, όπως και σήμερα, επαρκείς νόμοι και αυστηρές ποινές.

Μόνο λίγο ενδιαφέρον και θέληση χρειάζεται.

Το 1984 οι υπεύθυνοι την γλύτωσαν σχετικά εύκολα.

Σήμερα 1/4 αιώνα μετά, τα πράγματα δεν είναι ίδια. Με το παραμικρό τα ΜΜΕ θα κατασπαράξουν τους πάντες και τα πάντα και δεν θα σταματάνε μέχρι να δουνε κάποιους κρεμασμένους.

MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR
THE SAFE PRACTICE
OF ROWING
This document should be considered as an example for the development
of a localised safety programme. Each national, regional or
local rowing organization should have its own regulations for the
safe practice of the sport of rowing which fully reflects local, regional
or national laws, obligations and requirements. In this respect
FISA accepts no legal liability.
Introduction
Many accidents take place because uninformed decisions are made
before leaving the boathouse. Weather and water conditions, time
of day, equipment, and supervision are all critical components that
must be considered to have a safe training session. FISA encourages
all rowing programs to implement, at a minimum, the following
guidelines to help make informed decisions and ensure the safe
practice of our sport. The standards below are available to be used
as a basis for establishing fundamental guidelines or to supplement
existing ones.
I. REQUIRED ELEMENTS
A. General
These guidelines provide the minimum rowing safety standards
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generally appropriate for rowing organizations. Each organization
is responsible for enforcing safety standards in their respective area
and local laws may require more stringent regulations or policies
as deemed appropriate. The following minimum guidelines may be
freely used to create comprehensive safety regulations appropriate
to the area.
B. Safety Adviser
Each rowing organization should appoint a Safety Adviser. The
duty of the Safety Adviser is to ensure that the safety program is
followed.
C. Code of Safety
Each organization should prominently post a “Code of Safety” or its
equivalent, such as “Safety Rules and Regulations”, including rules
and information on:
• Safe Rowing Equipment
• Boathouse Rules
• Local Code of Practice and navigation rules
• Rowers’, Scullers’, Coaches’ and Coxswains’ Responsibilities
• Emergency Rules/ Capsize and Accident Drills
• Coaching Boats and Safety Boats
• Safety at Regattas
• Log book for unsupervised rowers
• Visual aids on; water safety, lifesaving, hypothermia, hyperthermia,
resuscitation procedures
• Telephone number list, to include
o Doctor/Ambulance/Police
o Fire Department
o Local hospital casualty department
o Local, river or harbor police
o If there is no telephone readily available at the boating
area, clear directions to the nearest available telephone
must also be displayed.
Safety and first aid equipment should be readily available in every
boating area to include:
• First aid cabinet (to be fully stocked and regularly checked)
• Thermal blankets/exposure bags
• Life rings/buoys and rope line
• Life jackets
Where possible, clubs should maintain adequate comprehensive
insurance to cover personal injury to club members on and off the
water and personal injury and damage to property or liability to third
parties.
There should be included in these policies adequate cover for the
Safety Adviser.
II. DETAILED INFORMATION
A. Safe Rowing Equipment
For the safety of all concerned, rowing equipment should be maintained
in good working order. Particular attention must be paid to
the following:
• Every boat must have a firmly attached ball of not less than
4 cm (1.5 inches) diameter on its bow. Where the construction
or nature of the boat is such that the bow is properly
protected or its shape does not represent a hazard then this
requirement need not apply.
• Heel restraints and “quick-release” mechanisms must be
in proper and effective working order in all boats equipped
with fitted shoes. These restraints should not allow the heel
to lift more than 5cm (2 inches).
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• For rowing in reduced daylight, boats shall be fitted with
lights as required by the local and national waterway authorities.
At the least, all boats should have a light forward
and aft.
• All oars and sculls should be checked to ensure that “buttons”
are secure and properly set.
• Bow and stern compartments should function as individual
buoyancy compartments and must be checked to ensure that
they will function as intended.
• Boats should meet minimum flotation requirements:
When full of water a boat with the crew seated in the rowing
position should float in such a way that the top of the seat is
a maximum of 5 cm (2 inches) below the static waterline.
Older boats not designed to meet this requirement may use
inflatable buoyancy bags, foam blocks or other materials.
B. Local Code of Practice
Since conditions vary from venue to venue, each organisation
should prepare and display a local code of practice, which should include
a plan of the local water, drawing attention to local navigation
rules, hazards and restrictions to water use. Attention should also be
drawn to any variation in normal procedures that may be necessary
due to the state of the tide or stream, high winds, or other climatic
conditions. Local codes of practice should emphasize that safety is
paramount.
C. Personnel Responsibilities
1. General
All participants in rowing and sculling, including coxswains, should
receive proper instruction in watermanship and technique, including
capsize drills, from a qualified coach. No one should put him- or
herself or others at risk when on the water. This applies particularly
to beginners and to juniors.
Encouragement should be given to athletes to become fully aware
of life-saving and resuscitation procedures by attending training
courses. In particular, it is highly desirable that Safety Advisers and
coaches should be so trained.
Rowing activities should be coordinated with those of other local
water users to minimize clashes of interest and the possibility of
creating additional water hazards.
There should be a required reporting structure for all non-trivial
accidents to the Safety Adviser or higher authority where these
events are recorded for further review. This information should be
passed on to the regional or national authorities for a comprehensive
overview of safety in the sport.
2. Rowers and coxswains
Any rower or coxswain going out on the water will be responsible
for abiding by all local rules, regulations
and traffic patterns. They should be in good health and properly
attired for the present and potential conditions. All rowers and
coxwains should demonstrate the ability to swim 50 meters (54
yards) in light clothing and to demonstrate within that test competence
under water and in treading water. If a person cannot meet the
requirements of the swimming test for physical or other reasons, an
approved lifejacket or buoyancy aid should be worn when in a boat.
In case of accident, stay with your boat rather than attempting to
swim to the shore. Your boat, unless seriously damaged, is your life
raft.
Coxswains should receive a full explanation on handling the boat,
all relevant safety procedures and boat handling. Inexperienced
coxswains should be allowed out in boats only if observed by an
experienced coach, preferably in a fully equipped coach boat. They
must also be familiar with navigation rules.
3. Coaches
Coaches must be responsible for those under their authority and
should ensure that they are informed of safety procedures and abide
by them. They must evaluate environmental conditions and determine
if it is safe for rowers to go out on the water.
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D. Coaching Boats
1. General
The presence of a coaching boat gives far better safety protection to
a crew than a coach on a bicycle on the land. The coach must drive
safely, always consider the safety of those on board, and consider
the effect upon other water users.
2. Training Drivers
To take out an engine-powered boat without previous instruction is
to put the driver, any passengers and other water users at risk. At the
very least the club shall ensure that an experienced driver goes out
with a new driver until he has shown that he is fully in control of the
launch.
The manner in which coaching boats are driven may create unnecessary
problems for other water users.
Excessive washes and waves create difficult rowing conditions and
can cause accidents to smaller boats.
Thoughtless driving often causes damage to moored boats and to
riverbanks. To use coaching boats for coaching, rescue and other
purposes all on the same water, requires drivers to be fully aware
of the effect of the wake they cause and the risk that the very sport
they are seeking to assist cannot take place because their manner of
driving their boat has made the water unusable.
3. Coaching Boat Requirements
All coaching and safety boats should carry the following safety aids:
• A bailer and, for inflatable rubber dinghies. a suitable pump
and a spare valve
• A horn or similar warning device, capable of attracting attention
over a distance of at least 200 metres (217 yards).
• A grab line at least 15 metres (16 yards) long with a large
knot tied in one end to assist throwing. Ideally a purpose
made rescue/heaving line throw-bag.
• Thermal/exposure blankets to reduce wind-chill and
counteract hypothermia. Make use of proprietary items but
not woolen blankets that only absorb moisture and do not
then retain heat. In the absence of recognised equipment,
polythene sheet cut to the size of a commercially available
exposure bag will provide the necessary level of heat retention
until proper treatment can begin.
• Life buoys/Life jackets. These are essential when several
people are in the water and the launch can attend to only one
at a time.
• A basic first aid kit (list contents and check regularly as
before).
• A sharp knife with carrying sheath.
• A paddle.
• Simple handholds fixed to the side of a launch to give help
to any person being rescued, and provide self-help should
the driver fall overboard.
• Engine, cutout lanyard device.
• An anchor and line.
4. Low Light Conditions
When it is necessary for outings to take place in the dark or in poor
visibility the coaching boat must carry a waterproof flashlight and
sound signalling system as a means of signalling for assistance. The
boat must be fitted with lights as required by local/national authorities.
5. Lifejackets
It is advisable that buoyancy aids or life jackets be worn at all times
by all on board a coaching boat and are essential when going out to
sea or on very wide stretches of water. Life jackets that depend on
oral inflation should be worn partly inflated; those that have auto inflation
must be checked at intervals suggested by the manufacturers.
6. Coaching Boat Maintenance
Maintenance of the boat and its engine is vital since the possible
consequences of failure are great. A tool/spare parts box should be
kept dry and checked regularly (an extra can of pre-mixed fuel is
also a vital spare). It is a wise precaution to check that the engine is
securely fixed to the hull and that the secondary safety fixing exists
and is properly effective every time the boat is used.
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7. Coaching Boat Design
Choice of a coaching boat, its hull size and its shape must be
matched to an engine suitable for the work it is to undertake and
the load to be carried. In particular, boats to be used for coaching
on rivers or enclosed waters must be of a design which will enable
a launch to accompany a crew rowing at speed without creating a
wash that makes the water unusable or unsafe for everyone else, or
causes damage to banks or installations.
E. Accident Log
An accident log is to be maintained and be available for inspection
at all times, giving time, place and nature of accident, injuries/damages
sustained and names and addresses of witnesses. Accident logs
should be made available to the proper national authority where
required.
III. COLD WATER GUIDELINES -
HYPOTHERMIA
A. Background
Most experts in immersion hypothermia and cold water near drowning
/ drowning define cold water as temperatures below 20° C (68°
F) (It is also recognized that colder temperatures increase the rate of
body cooling and increase the risk of cold shock and swimming failure.
The majority of persons dying from immersion succumb in the
early stages of the incident due to a range of physiological responses
including gasping, hyperventilation and rapid peripheral cooling,
resulting in aspiration, reduced breath-hold and incapacitation.
Preparation and prevention are essential to protect against the effects
of the cold-water environment. This should include emergency drills
with the equipment that would be used. Acclimatisation to the cold
is also shown to lessen the negative physiological responses.
B. Guidelines
1. Conditions
Environmental conditions should be monitored, including water
temperature, wind, precipitation and seastate, and appropriate safety
directions such as those set out in #3 below should be issued.
2. Clothing
Protective clothing should be worn which is appropriate for the conditions.
The activity with the objective is to keep the body dry and to
insulate against heat loss.
3. Precautions
When the water temperature is at 10° C (50° F) or below or when
the environmental conditions warrant, special safety precautions
should be considered. Possibilities should include:
• Warning members against going on the water;
• Advising members to go on the water only if carrying a
personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate
size for each member of the crew, a sound-signaling device
and, if it is after sunset and before sunrise, navigation lights
as set out in the Collision Regulations, and;
• Where appropriate, only if attended by a safety boat carrying
a PFD or lifejacket of appropriate size for each member
of the crew of the largest vessel being attended.
C. Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when the whole of the body has been chilled
to a much lower than normal temperature, i.e. below 35° C (95° F)
compared with the normal body temperature of 37° C (98.6° F).
This should be avoided at all costs.
• “Dress to beat the cold” - Layers of clothing are more
effective than one warm garment. The outer layer should be
wind and waterproof.
• Do not take or give alcohol in cold conditions. Alcohol accelerates
heat loss as well as impairing judgment.
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• Be alert to the warning signs of cold both in yourself and
others.
• Coaches of young children must be particularly aware of
the risks to their charges of exposure to cold. Exposed arms,
legs and head heighten the risk.
If a person has fallen into cold water, their body will lose heat
rapidly. To reduce heat loss, the person should keep his clothes on
except for heavy coats or boots which may drag the person down.
Sudden immersion in cold water can have a shock effect that can
disrupt normal breathing, reducing even a proficient swimmer to
incompetence. Confusion and an inability to respond to simple
instructions will become evident.
When hypothermia is suspected; try to prevent further loss of body
heat and re-warm the affected victim.
Send for help. Hypothermia is a medical emergency whether the
patient is conscious or unconscious.
If conscious the victim should be actively re-warmed under careful
observation.
If unconscious the victim must get medical aid as soon as possible.
Follow instructions given under Resuscitation.
D. Symptoms and signs of hypothermia
The following are the most usual symptoms and signs, but all may
not be present:
• Unexpected and unreasonable behavior possibly accompanied
by complaints of coldness and tiredness.
• Physical and mental lethargy with failure to understand a
question or orders.
• Slurring of speech.
• Violent outburst of unexpected energy and violent language,
becoming uncooperative.
• Failure of, or abnormality in, vision.
• Twitching.
• Lack of control of limbs, unsteadiness and complaining of
numbness and cramp.
• General shock with pallor and blueness of lips and nails.
• Slow weak pulse, wheezing and coughing.
A very dangerous situation is still present when a person who has
been in the water for some time is taken out of the water. Further
heat loss must be prevented. The victim should be protected against
wind and rain if possible. Re-warming can be carried out by:
• Wrapping the victim in a thermal/exposure blanket.
• Others placing their warm bodies against the victim.
• Giving hot drinks (if conscious), but not alcohol.
PREVENTION IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY
E. Resuscitation
To be effective, resuscitation must be started as soon as possible,
even while the patient is in the water.
Otherwise irreversible damage or death will occur within a few minutes.
Many thousands of lives have been saved by ordinary citizens
who have known what to do and have had the courage to do it at the
critical time.
The saving of life during a medical emergency depends on the accurate
assessment and proper management of the ABC of resuscitation:
A - AIRWAY
B - BREATHING
C - CIRCULATION
On finding a person requiring resuscitation:
1. Approach
Establish there is no danger to yourself or the victim. If you see
someone in difficulties in the water, DO NOT go into the water after
him. It is critical that the rescuer handle the emergency in such a
way that he himself remains safe. Remember there may be neck or
back injuries requiring extra care when moving the victims.
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• Find something to help pull him out – a stick, a rope or
clothing.
• Lie down to prevent yourself from being pulled in.
• If you cannot reach him, throw any floating object - football,
plastic bottle - for him to hold on to, then fetch help.
• If you are in a safety launch carefully approach him if it is
safe to do so.
REACH - THROW - TOW
HAVING RESCUED THE VICTIM - SHOUT IMMEDIATELY FOR HELP
2. Assess the patient
Responsiveness - Establish responsiveness by shouting “ARE YOU
ALL RIGHT” loudly and gently shaking the shoulder. If the patient
is unresponsive, i.e., not breathing with no pulse: leave the patient
immediately and summon help. Return to the patient and commence
resuscitation.
a) Breathing
Inspect the airway - remove blood, vomit, loose teeth or
broken dentures but leave well fitting dentures in place.
b) Open the airway
The rescuer should place two fingers beneath the point of
the patient’s chin, lift the jaw and at the same time place the
palm of the other hand on the patient’s forehead. Tilt the
head well back by pressing on the forehead and the airway
will open.
c) Check for breathing
The rescuer should place her ear close to the patient’s mouth
looking down along the line of the chest.
• Listen for the sound of breathing.
• Feel for air movement indicating breathing.
• Look for rising and falling of the chest.
d) Circulation
Check for the presence of a pulse by feeling for the carotid
artery in the neck. The artery lies along each side of the
voice box (larynx).
If the patient is unresponsive - not breathing with no pulse -
leave the patient immediately and go and telephone for help.
Return to the patient and commence resuscitation.
If the patient is unresponsive, not breathing but with a pulse
– perform ten “mouth to mouth” (expired air resuscitation)
breaths, then leave the patient and telephone for help (in certain
countries there are special short emergency telephone
numbers, such as “999” or “911”). Return to the patient,
check for breathing and pulse and continue resuscitation.
If the patient is unresponsive but is breathing and has a
pulse then turn him on his side into the recovery position.
e) The Recovery Position
Kneel to one side of the patient. Take the nearest arm and
place it at 90° to his body, elbow bent and palm uppermost.
Take the farthest arm and place it with the palm outwards
held against the casualty’s cheek. Bend the far knee upwards
to 90°, keeping the foot flat on the ground.
Supporting the hand on the face, pull gently but firmly on
the bent up thigh to roll the patient towards you. Rearrange
the far side, now upper leg to 90° and ensure the airway is
still open by tilting the head and lifting the chin.
3. Resuscitation Procedure
This is the provision of artificial ventilation by mouth to mouth
breathing, and an artificial circulation by external chest compressions.
a) Mouth to Mouth Breathing (Expired Air Resuscitation)
Lie the patient on his back. Kneel beside the head of the patient
and open the airway by lifting the head and lifting the
jaw. Open the patient’s mouth and pinch the nostrils closed.
Open your mouth, take a deep breath, seal your mouth
firmly over the patient’s mouth and breath out steadily into
the patient.
Watch the patient’s chest rise as if he is taking a deep breath
1-2 seconds.
Remove your mouth from the patient’s mouth and allow the
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chest to fall (4 seconds). Give two breaths.
If mouth to mouth breathing is difficult, check and reposition
the airway. Vomiting may occur if breathing returns,
place the patient in the recovery position to prevent him
from choking.
b) Mouth to Nose Breathing
If mouth to mouth breathing fails to give air to the patient
mouth to nose breathing is an alternative method. With
the patient placed in same position as described above the
mouth is sealed firmly over the patients nose and you may
breathe out steadily into the patient. Ensure that sealing of
your mouth around patient’s nose does not prevent airflow
to the nose.
Watch the patient’s chest rise as if he is taking a deep breath
1-2 seconds.
Remove your mouth from the patient’s nose and allow the
chest to fall (4 seconds). Give two breaths.
c) External Chest Compression
Place the patient flat on his back and kneel alongside the
chest. Place the heel of one hand on the lower third of the
breast bone. Place the heel of your other hand on top of the
first hand. With your arms held straight and the hands on the
chest all the time, press down on the breast-bone to depress
it 4-5 cm (1.5 to 2 inches), then release.
Compress the chest smoothly 15 times at a rate of approximately
80 compressions per minute. After performing 15
compressions give 2 ventilations. Continue the compressions
and the ventilations until help arrives. Do not stop to
reassess the patient’s pulse or breathing until help arrives.
4. Training
Remember that effective resuscitation training is essential; the
foregoing text is only a guide/aide to understanding the practice of
resuscitation that you are strongly recommended to learn. Contact
your Red Cross or other medical training group for practical instruction
in First Aid and resuscitation.
IV. HOT WEATHER GUIDELINES -
HYPERTHERMIA
Where rowing training and racing take place in a warm climate,
participants may be subject to health risks. Organizers and other
responsible persons should be prepared to evaluate the potential
risks and to take precautions. This section represents the conclusions
reached by the FISA Sports Medicine Commission in their paper
“Hot weather and safety guidelines” which gives more detailed
information onheat related problems and safety measures.
The main medical problems in warm and hot environments are
related to:
• Air temperatures
• Air humidity
• Heat Radiation from sun and warm environments
• Exercise induced heat production
• Impaired heat reduction (Clothing, ventilation, hydration)
The main strategies to prevent heat-induced illnesses are
• Acclimatization
• Adequate hydration
• Postponement of exercise to cooler time periods of the day.
A. BASIC MEDICAL ISSUES
High intensity exercise in a hot environment with associated fluid
loss and elevation of body temperature can lead to:
1. Dehydration - Heat Exhaustion - Heat Stroke
The heat related problems always start with dehydration and accompanied
by an elevated body core temperature. Exercise further
increases heat load on the body. With increased core temperature,
energy demands for temperature regulation increase and this further
depletes energy resources, particularly glucose stores. These conditions
are prerequisites for the heat induced illnesses. However, it
should be mentioned, in the case of excessive thermal load, heat
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exhaustion and heat stroke may occur without dehydration.
The main heat related illnesses are represented in Table 1 with the
causes and physical problems, the indications and symptoms, and
simple rules for treatment. Any athlete with an elevated temperature
above > 40 °C (104 °F) which does not resolve after 30 minutes of
cooling and rehydration is to be considered a medical emergency.
2. Hot Weather Risk Evaluation
Taking into account the above mentioned factors, three levels of risk
can be considered for hot, dry days according to the ambient temperature.
When available, “wet bulb globe temperature” (WBGT)
should be used to quantify environmental heat stress:
Table: Risk evaluation related to ambient temperature
or WBGT
Ambient Dry WBGT Risk of Thermal
Temperature Injury
25°-31.9°C (77°-89.4°F) 24-29.3°C (75-85°F) Moderate
32°-38°C (89.6°-100°F) 29.4-32.1°C (85-89.9°F) High
38°C and above (>100°F) 32.2 °C and above (> 90 °F) Extreme
3. Regatta Cancellation / Postponement
In general, with proper planning and observation of local weather
forecasts it should not be necessary to cancel a regatta. For the
safety of participants the amendment of the regatta program to allow
for events to be contested in the cooler parts of the day may suffice.
When high or extreme thermal risk is indicated, special precautionary
measurements are required.
B. SAFETY MEASURES
Hot weather safety measures:
1. Shade and Cooling facilities
a) For regattas in warm months, shaded rest areas (Buildings,
tents, natural shade) need to be provided.
b) Cool or air conditioned rooms are recommended when
warm weather with temperatures higher than 32° C (89.6°F)
are expected.
c) Fans to enhance air movement in rooms and resting areas
are recommended when room temperatures exceed 25° C
(77° F).
2. Medical centre and first aid provisions
a) Rescue and first aid teams should be trained in diagnosis
and treatment of temperature related illnesses and problems.
b) Facilities for intravenous infusion and intravenous fluids
(e.g. Ringer Lactate solution) have to provided at the medical
centre.
c) For cooling, crushed ice, water and fans should be provided
at the Medical Centre.
d) The medical centre should be air conditioned when dry air
temperatures higher than 32° C (89.6°F) are expected.
3. Organization, training, racing and related measures
a) Training times:
Teams should be advised to train in the morning and evening
hours, when warm weather with temperatures higher
than 32° °C (89.6°F) are expected.
b) Course closed:
Racing course should be closed for training (usually during
the hottest part of the day; 11:00am - 3:00pm), when dry air
temperatures exceed 38°C (>100°F).
c) Official and umpire rotation:
Rotation of volunteers should be considered when dry air
temperatures exceed 32° C (89.6°F).
d) Clothing:
Clothing worn by umpires, officials and volunteers should
also be adjusted to temperature.
e) Extra water:
Provision of extra water for wetting the face, clothes and
hair should be provided at the regatta course when dry air
temperatures exceed 32 °C (89.6°F) for athletes, visitors and
officials.
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4. Drinking water and fluid supply
a) Drinking water:
At regattas in warm months, free access to drinking water
should be provided to athletes.
b) Water hygiene:
If tap water is drinkable, an official certificate of health authorities
should be provided specifying the hygienic quality.
c) Amount of water supplied:
Drinking water - The total amount of free water provided be
organizers should be at least 2 liter (2 quarts) per day, when
dry air temperatures exceed 32° C (89.6°F) , additional 1
liter per day should be provided. 1 liter (1 quart) can be
provided at the meals.
d) Water for the crews:
Organizers are advised to find a suitable place for the
coaches to give water to the crews after racing.
e) Water in rescue launches:
Organizers are advised to have water in the rescue launches
but to be given out in case of emergency and to provide
water near to the victory ceremony.
f) If the OCs would have a sponsor for mineral water then
this water is available to the teams for free and distributed
through a certain system.
5. Personal recommendations
a) Hydration:
The base fluid need of athletes is 2 liters per day and
increases with exercise time (1 liter / hour) and air temperatures
(1 liter per 5° C (9° F) temperature increase above 25°
C (77° F)). For hydration, water, hypotonic and isotonic
fluids may be used.
b) Radiation:
Indirect radiation from the sun or from hot cars or in hot
rooms enhances the negative effects of hot temperatures.
Shade provides shelter.
c) Hats:
Athletes in direct sunlight should wear hats which should be
wetted with water.
d) Clothing:
Clothing should be made with fabrics that minimize heat
storage and enhance sweat evaporation. Light coloured,
loose fitting clothes, made of natural fibres or compositefabrics
with high absorption properties that provide for
adequate ventilation are recommended.
e) Rest:
Sleep and rest enhance temperature tolerance.
f) UV Sun block:
decrease radiation damage of the skin and reflect also radiation.
This decreases thermal load.
g) Lying down after races in warm environments may have
negative effects on circulation and may provoke collapses.
Rowers are advised to cool themselves with water after the
races.
6. Acclimatisation
a) Acclimatisation of the participants includes the rowers as
well as the umpires, other officials and volunteers and is the
most important measure to prevent heat related illnesses.
b) Preparation for exercise under hot conditions should include
a period of acclimatisation to those conditions, especially
if the athlete is travelling from a cool / temperate climate to
compete under hot / humid conditions.
c) Acclimatisation to hot environments takes usually 7 to 10
days.
7. Information on health risks
1. Participants or officials at a high risk of heat illness should
inform the medical staff in case of extreme weather conditions.
2. Risk increases with medical conditions including asthma,
diabetes, pregnancy, heart conditions and epilepsy. Some
medications and conditions may need special allowances.
For more detailed hot weather risk evaluation during regattas, the “Heat Stress
Adviser” (author: J.Coyle, Tulsa, OK; based on a Sports Medicine Australia (SA
Branch) checklist for planning sports events) may be downloaded from the site:
http://www.zunis.org/sports_p.htm and the FISA Medical Commission hot weather
and safety standpoint.