{"id":535027,"date":"2023-08-07T13:36:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T20:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=535027"},"modified":"2023-08-07T13:36:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-07T20:36:36","slug":"air-quality-issues-make-swimmers-sick-at-central-zone-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/air-quality-issues-make-swimmers-sick-at-central-zone-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Quality Issues Make Swimmers Sick at Central Zone Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air Quality Issues Make Swimmers Sick at Central Zone Championships<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the weekend, numerous swimmers competing at USA Swimming’s Central Zone Championships in Lexera, Kan., became ill because of air quality issues inside the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center. Issues with the pool water’s chemistry and poor ventilation created an unhealthy environment inside the facility that resulted in multiple swimmer hospitalizations and multiple stoppages of competition.<\/p>\n

A source told\u00a0Swimming World<\/em> that an ambulance was called to the facility Friday to take two swimmers to a hospital. A report from FOX 4 Kansas City states that swimmers’ symptoms included “struggling to breathe, throwing up, burning eyes and passing out,” and the video footage from the station showed parents and swimmers sitting outside of the aquatic center, only entering the building when it was their time to swim.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should be inside, but the air quality is so freaking bad. You can\u2019t be inside, the kids can\u2019t be inside, we can\u2019t be inside, because people are getting sick and passing out,\u201d a parent told the FOX affiliate.<\/p>\n