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Citing weather-related health concerns, Batavia Youth Bureau announces closure for Tuesday

By Howard B. Owens

Announcement from the Batavia Youth Bureau:

Due to extreme weather conditions predicted for Tuesday, the Batavia Summer Recreation Program (Parks Program) will close for the day.  

The weather is predicted to be 95 to 100 degrees and humid, which makes being outdoors unsafe for people of all ages.  

The number one concern of the Batavia Youth Bureau and Summer Recreation staff is the safety of the program participants; therefore, the Youth Bureau reserves the right to close for conditions that pose a threat to the staff and the participants.

Should you have further questions or concerns, please call the Youth Bureau at 345-6420.

Peter O'Brien

I don't remember football practice or soccer games being cancelled for this when I was a kid. We did something called PREPARE! We brought extra water or gatorade. We brought ICE to put in out helmets. This is modern America, we have the technology, we can be outside in the heat. It won't kill us as long as we are smart about it.

More evidence of the weak generations that are being produced

Jul 16, 2012, 12:04pm Permalink
John Roach

peter,
Yep, and you walked uphill both ways to school in 6 feet of snow.
I doubt you had many, if any, 95-100 degree days. This was a smart move.

Jul 16, 2012, 12:13pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Peter,

Even in the Marine Corps there were 'Red Flag Days' when the temperatures approached 100 degrees outside activity was curtailed during training.

We are talking about young kids here not atheletes. This decision is actually being smart about it.

Jul 16, 2012, 12:23pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

We had Black Flag days in the Navy and I said at the time that those are dumb as well, What are we not going to fight a war because its hot outside?

Jul 16, 2012, 4:10pm Permalink
John Roach

Peter,
You didn't rally say something that dumb, did you? "what are we not going to fight a war because its too hot outside?" You tell that to the Iraq or Afghanistan vets and they'll laugh you out of town.

You don't expose people, and especially young kids, to unnecessary risks just to say your tough. That's just a special kind of stupid.

Jul 16, 2012, 6:59pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Oh wait did I not serve in the desert, nope I did.

I said that because if our troops are expected to perform in the weather as they are, they should train in the weather, which in most cases they don't. I know how hot it gets in the middle east. Oh and for the record, though I wasn't in Iraq, I am an Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Vet.

Back to the kids. I'm not saying they should be forced out there, but if the choice is made by the parents the service should still be available. Lets say it was being used as a day care while a mom worked a part time shift. "Well thank you government for deciding what is best for my child and family as now I can't earn the money I was supposed to because I need to watch my child and not go to work."

Meanwhile if she just packed them some water and ice, they would be just fine.

Let me know when they start keeping score again.

Jul 16, 2012, 8:07pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Peter I am not entirely disagreeing with you. I remember as a kid just slowing down or finding someplace cool to spend the day when it was this hot and humid. The problem is that accountability and responsibility are hypervigilant nowadays as parents will sue or litigate at the drop of a hat over something happening. I recall in my training grouip in San diego when we did our last PT run we were required to all pass that run, or we repeated the last week of training. We had everyone pass however 5 were felled with heat stroke and one of our fellow ecruits died from his organs shutting down after the heat stroke. All of us were given instructions, and proper nutrition and hydration, these people decided though that they werent gonna subect themselves to water cramps by drinking the water handed off during the run. They all learned a lesson, one didnt but in todays society the Navy would have been besieged by reporters, litigation and bad publicity. Its just the way things are....

Jul 16, 2012, 8:24pm Permalink
John Roach

Boy, tell the guys at Fort Hood or Fort Irwin they don't train in the heat for combat. Are they in for a surprise!
And in the morning, you implied that by canceling this, we were raising weak kids. At that time, you said nothing about the need for kids to go for child care (government funded program which you do not normally support). Later, you implied the kids would not be able to handle life because of this cancellation.

Jul 16, 2012, 8:29pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be killers, especially in the oldest and the youngest among us.

Closing the program for the day is in NO WAY the nanny state telling us what to do.

You are way, way out in left field on this one Peter.

And Kyle, in 20 years, I saw many fall out from Heat related problems during PT, two from units I was with in my carreer that died, they were by no means the weakest either, infact it was their macho that inevidably killed them. So you are absolutely correct.

Jul 16, 2012, 8:54pm Permalink
Alexandra Mruczek

I don't usually comment, but had to this time. This is not a war we're talking about. This is about a park program. I don't know how this got so off topic, this really isn't even up for debate. The "optional" park program for KIDS was cancelled as a precaution. War has absolutely nothing to do with it. And Peter, your comment was a harsh generalization. What an odd turn of conversation.

Jul 16, 2012, 10:03pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Kyle,

That's my point, the way things are is wrong. Self responsibility has been thrown out the window.

That one of the leading causes of the downfall of America, and this closing due to heat just just another symptom.

Jul 16, 2012, 10:45pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Peter how can you compare a combat trained soldier to a young kid? REALLY? Children and the elderly are more susceptible to heat exhaustion or stroke. This is not about a weak society; it is about using common sense. Which some people seem to have a lack of.

Jul 17, 2012, 12:30am Permalink

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