Sad news: Fran Crippen, 26, passes away

I have read this and do not think there is very much in this to protect any one. The water temperatures laid out are good. But In Lake Ontario the water temp can read good to go but one hour later the temperature can change up to 10 degrees. I went to the lake one day checked the temperature to see if I was going to train, it was 62 degrees. I talked a little while with friends and put my swimsuit on. When I got in the water I was shocked my feet went numb, I took the temperature again and it was 52 degrees. Also I still prefer a doctor on site to check swimmers before the race begins. www.swimnews.com/.../8596 US Crippen Inquiry Urges Marathon Overhaul Craig Lord Apr 13, 2011 The USA Open Water Review Commission appointed by USA Swimming to investigate the death of Fran Crippen (USA) in a 10km FINA world cup marathon race off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on October 23 last year has issued a thinly veiled criticism of the international federation for failing to provide information about the most tragic race day in the organisation's history. On the day that the commission's recommendations, a blueprint for whole-scale reform of - and a better day in - open water are issued, the five-person inquiry team states: "Because FINA has declined to provide information as to the circumstances on the day of the race until after it has issued its report, the Commission has not been able to complete a review of the circumstances surrounding Fran Crippen’s death. Requests for information have been made of FINA by the investigators engaged by USA Swimming, by USA Swimming staff and by the Commission. To date, no information has been provided by FINA." FINA's Bureau is scheduled to consider the report of its own Task Force into Fran Crippen's death in July, a delay of four months caused by the report having been returned to the Task Force for removal of material that the FINA executive deemed to have exceeded its "scope and mission". In a statement, USA Swimming indicated that the Commission's work was not yet done: "The Commission will remain standing in anticipation of a report from FINA, the international governing body of swimming." The US commission was in little doubt that Fran Crippen died as a result of heat exhaustion. It also concludes that USA Swimming needs to take more seriously its responsibilities to open water athletes and recommends that USA Swimming hire a full-time person to manage open water administrative tasks. Recommendations at a glance, which included many of the things called for by athletes in their 11-point plan sent to FINA: all open water race organizers to have a safety plan in place which includes sufficient and specific monitoring of swimmers with specific parameters that must be met a feeding station every 2km safety precautions for pre-race warm-up and post-race warm-down. Ambient temperature rules, including: 1. If the water temperature is below 16 C (60.8 F), no race can be held. 2. For races of 5K and above, if the water is above 31 C (87.8 F), no race can be held. 3. If the air temperature and water temperature added together (in Celsius) are less than a total of 30, no race can be held. 4. If the air temperature and water temperature added together (in Celsius) are greater than 63, no race can be held. water testing for quality removal of any requirement for athletes to participate in any particular race of an open water series in order to receive final point standings or prize money in the series. use of tracking devices to track athletes in open water races and a process by which athletes would certify themselves “medically fit and adequately prepared” for the race USA Swimming hire a full-time person to manage open water administrative tasks. Led by IOC and WADA leading light Richard Pound, the chairman, the commission of Sid Cassidy, Harold Cliff, Dr. Scott Rodeo and Erica Rose, states: "The Commission has decided that the importance of improvements in safety protocols, procedures and precautions in a discipline such as open water swimming, with its particular risks, is such that proposals for the improvements must be considered whatever the circumstances of Fran Crippen’s death may have been. "It goes almost without saying that there must be immediate recognition when a swimmer is struggling or loses consciousness; there must be immediate rescue when loss of consciousness occurs; and there must be immediate resuscitation to address medical emergencies. "While it seems fairly clear that Fran Crippen lost consciousness as a result of heat exhaustion, there are many medical conditions which might lead to the same result. The difference between losing consciousness in a land-based event and an open water event is quite unique. The open water swimmer will sink and start to aspirate water instead of air and the progressive lack of oxygen will not cause the swimmer to “wake up.” Once this occurs, rescue must take place very quickly in order to avoid serious medical consequences, including death. "The recommendations which follow are circulated for consideration by USA Swimming and the open water community generally. They were adopted unanimously by the Open Water Review Commission". ..................................................

I have read this and do not think there is very much in this to protect any one. The water temperatures laid out are good. But In Lake Ontario the water temp can read good to go but one hour later the temperature can change up to 10 degrees. I went to the lake one day checked the temperature to see if I was going to train, it was 62 degrees. I talked a little while with friends and put my swimsuit on. When I got in the water I was shocked my feet went numb, I took the temperature again and it was 52 degrees. Also I still prefer a doctor on site to check swimmers before the race begins. www.swimnews.com/.../8596 US Crippen Inquiry Urges Marathon Overhaul Craig Lord Apr 13, 2011 The USA Open Water Review Commission appointed by USA Swimming to investigate the death of Fran Crippen (USA) in a 10km FINA world cup marathon race off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on October 23 last year has issued a thinly veiled criticism of the international federation for failing to provide information about the most tragic race day in the organisation's history. On the day that the commission's recommendations, a blueprint for whole-scale reform of - and a better day in - open water are issued, the five-person inquiry team states: "Because FINA has declined to provide information as to the circumstances on the day of the race until after it has issued its report, the Commission has not been able to complete a review of the circumstances surrounding Fran Crippen’s death. Requests for information have been made of FINA by the investigators engaged by USA Swimming, by USA Swimming staff and by the Commission. To date, no information has been provided by FINA." FINA's Bureau is scheduled to consider the report of its own Task Force into Fran Crippen's death in July, a delay of four months caused by the report having been returned to the Task Force for removal of material that the FINA executive deemed to have exceeded its "scope and mission". In a statement, USA Swimming indicated that the Commission's work was not yet done: "The Commission will remain standing in anticipation of a report from FINA, the international governing body of swimming." The US commission was in little doubt that Fran Crippen died as a result of heat exhaustion. It also concludes that USA Swimming needs to take more seriously its responsibilities to open water athletes and recommends that USA Swimming hire a full-time person to manage open water administrative tasks. Recommendations at a glance, which included many of the things called for by athletes in their 11-point plan sent to FINA: all open water race organizers to have a safety plan in place which includes sufficient and specific monitoring of swimmers with specific parameters that must be met a feeding station every 2km safety precautions for pre-race warm-up and post-race warm-down. Ambient temperature rules, including: 1. If the water temperature is below 16 C (60.8 F), no race can be held. 2. For races of 5K and above, if the water is above 31 C (87.8 F), no race can be held. 3. If the air temperature and water temperature added together (in Celsius) are less than a total of 30, no race can be held. 4. If the air temperature and water temperature added together (in Celsius) are greater than 63, no race can be held. water testing for quality removal of any requirement for athletes to participate in any particular race of an open water series in order to receive final point standings or prize money in the series. use of tracking devices to track athletes in open water races and a process by which athletes would certify themselves “medically fit and adequately prepared” for the race USA Swimming hire a full-time person to manage open water administrative tasks. Led by IOC and WADA leading light Richard Pound, the chairman, the commission of Sid Cassidy, Harold Cliff, Dr. Scott Rodeo and Erica Rose, states: "The Commission has decided that the importance of improvements in safety protocols, procedures and precautions in a discipline such as open water swimming, with its particular risks, is such that proposals for the improvements must be considered whatever the circumstances of Fran Crippen’s death may have been. "It goes almost without saying that there must be immediate recognition when a swimmer is struggling or loses consciousness; there must be immediate rescue when loss of consciousness occurs; and there must be immediate resuscitation to address medical emergencies. "While it seems fairly clear that Fran Crippen lost consciousness as a result of heat exhaustion, there are many medical conditions which might lead to the same result. The difference between losing consciousness in a land-based event and an open water event is quite unique. The open water swimmer will sink and start to aspirate water instead of air and the progressive lack of oxygen will not cause the swimmer to “wake up.” Once this occurs, rescue must take place very quickly in order to avoid serious medical consequences, including death. "The recommendations which follow are circulated for consideration by USA Swimming and the open water community generally. They were adopted unanimously by the Open Water Review Commission". ..................................................