from the PacMasters Update Email
Ross Shoemaker, RIP
1942-2007
Ross Shoemaker died suddenly at the Senior Games following one of his swims. Ross had collapsed on the deck, and was not able to be revived. It is a terrible loss - Ross was a longtime member of the San Mateo Marlins, a warm and supportive man, and a devoted swimmer with an encouraging word for everyone.
Ross coached at Chabot Junior College for many years. Services are pending.
I don't think I need to point out the frequncy with which these unfortunate events have been occuring recently. Should active swimmers be getting stress echos or something as they get older? Are simple BP and lipid screens simply not enough?
Parents
Former Member
I suspect that if these individuals had not suffered cardiac arrest when they did (while swimming), it would have happened at some other time, perhaps that night during sleep. Studies looking at the incidence of heart attacks around the time of natural disasters suggest that the emotional stress involved (another important trigger of cardiac events) just causes the heart attack to occur a bit earlier than it would have otherwise.
While there are fates worse than sudden death, prevention is still a worthy goal. That having been said, I'm not convinced that avoidance of strenuous activity is the answer. You'd also need to eliminate emotional stress, natural disasters, etc.
I suspect that if these individuals had not suffered cardiac arrest when they did (while swimming), it would have happened at some other time, perhaps that night during sleep. Studies looking at the incidence of heart attacks around the time of natural disasters suggest that the emotional stress involved (another important trigger of cardiac events) just causes the heart attack to occur a bit earlier than it would have otherwise.
While there are fates worse than sudden death, prevention is still a worthy goal. That having been said, I'm not convinced that avoidance of strenuous activity is the answer. You'd also need to eliminate emotional stress, natural disasters, etc.
