Face mask use while exercising

It's been a few months since I've read articles about these incidents in China. So early this morning I pulled up a few stories to refresh my memory in light of learning new rules that Minnesota's deranged Department of Health officials have unleashed on children across the state.

Here's a summary on Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/china-boys-dead-face-mask.

I read at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website that at least three children in China died while exercising while masked last spring and summer. According to the NCBI, in all three cases, the children were wearing N95-level masks. Keep in mind: the NCBI's source was China-based news. In light of those deaths, China has discouraged or even banned the use of masks on children while they are exercising.

This article, which was updated on December 9, points out that there is no settled science behind the safety of masking while exercising for adults or children (short link): https://bit.ly/3nik8vV.

The Mayo Health System states that there are numerous issues with masking while exercising. Multiple warning signs need to be monitored when an adult or child is exerting themselves while wearing a mask. If this is in the setting of a school, for the sake of financial liability, I would hope there is enough staff available to monitor children for the following warning signs:

1. Dizziness

2. Drowsiness

3. Fatigue

4. Headache

5. Muscle weakness

I quote from Mayo Health System, "Before you exercise with a mask on, consider decreasing your exertion level - which means weight with resistance training or mileage in aerobic activities such as running or biking."

But what does the Mayo Health System know? It's not like they're experts on health, right, Timmy Walz?

*Added Wednesday afternoon...this Star Tribune contributor said it 1,000 times better than I could. His credentials put anyone to shame (multi-sport high school and college athlete, Princeton University degree in molecular biology and virology)...click on this short link to read what he has to say. It's nothing good about this madness of masking kids while they're exercising...part of his message is that what Minnesota is doing is "unsafe, unrealistic and likely ineffective."

http://strib.mn/2LswZhK

If you don't visit the Star Tribune website very often, you should be able to read the story without worrying about the Paywall.

Time to tune in to Timmy Walz...he's got his hot air show on right now. The state needs to continue changing its approach. I am not opposed to utilizing "mitigation" measures, but they have to add messaging about personal health and sharing proven ways to keep your health in the best possible standing. How often have you heard messaging about running a humidifier at home? Do you keep home humidity above 40 percent in the winter? That in itself is extremely important to keep your body healthy and able to fight off respiratory diseases.

Late this afternoon, I visited (in person - OH the horror!) with a hockey parent from a neighboring town. This hockey parent had an earful and more for me about the pure insanity of masking young children while they're fully dressed in hockey gear all while being in a cold climate. It's just bizarre. Their masks become moist very quickly under the helmets, and in the cold environment you are absolutely asking for trouble.

This is a very scary time to witness. What's happening is that Minnesota Department of Health officials understand so extremely little about youth sports that it makes you wonder if we are living in the Twilight Zone. The MDH edict of masking youth hockey players under their helmets appears to have been made with ZERO knowledge of the fact that these kids have to wear mouth guards. There is ample reason why they need mouth guards. So I go back to the earlier point: how can MDH officials be this clueless about youth sports?

How did we get here? How did we get to a place where the leaders making important decisions about our children do so while having no idea about reality. About the actual real world we live in?

In the past three days I've talked to two basketball players, two wrestling parents and how a hockey parent about what is taking place with youth sports in Minnesota. Rest assured: there was across-the-board anger coming from all of them. This is turning into a total, complete and unmitigated disaster. If this goes on, this will become one of the biggest travesties to take place in youth sports in the history of Minnesota.

God help us.

In this week's issue of the Kerkhoven Banner newspaper, I was absolutely thrilled to see a high school coach speak on record at his desire to see leaders of Minnesota change their tune with masking basketball players during games. K-M-S Fighting Saints head girls' basketball coach Justin Johnson said, "I am hoping they reconsider their thoughts about requiring masks."

After stating that his Fighting Saints will adjust their conditioning and practice sessions due to the masking requirement, Coach Johnson questioned how realistic it is that the mask is going to stay in place during the action.

"Basketball is a physical game!" he added.

PROPS to Coach Johnson for speaking his honest opinion about this matter. I tip my hat to you.