I love the sport of drag racing and I love the fact that my son, now 18 months old loves the race cars and the track. I hope someday when he’s older he’ll say with pride that both his mommy and daddy drag race and he gets to go with us. I hope we’ll be viewed as the “cool parents” someday. One thing I hope we won’t be called though, are the parents who don’t love their child enough to protect him from the dangers of the loud noise from the sport.
I am shocked everytime I go to the track and see babies and young children there with their parents who have no hearing protection on. Many are right there along the fence next to the starting line! Last week I witnessed an engine explosion on the starting line. There along the fence, was a young baby in his mother’s arms, I’m guessing to be around 9 months old. This cute little baby had no hearing protection on and was right in line of the debris path from this explosion. Luckily, none of it hit them, but I shudder to think what might have happened. I wonder if this mother realizes just how lucky they weren’t hurt or worse. Even still, the noise from the explosion was enough to damage anyone’s hearing, especially a baby’s. No one would argue that the drag strip is a very loud place to be. The noise level isn’t high just in the pro ranks either, even the local bracket racing scene can be very loud.
It is so sad sometimes to watch young children and babies shrieking, crying and cupping their little hands around their ears trying to block out all the loud noise. Many children who aren’t used to this level of noise just cannot handle it. Other children who aren’t crying and seem to be enjoying it are having irreversible damage being done to their hearing. Why is it that these parents seem oblivious to the fact their children are being harmed? Is it because they are ignorant or is it that they just don’t care?
Many adults who have been around racing for years will tell you their hearing has suffered greatly due to the noise level these cars put out and every racer I have met has shown their disgust for parents who refuse to protect their children from this hazard. I have received many compliments from other racers who thank me for protecting my child when they see him wearing his headphones. It’s obvious that I care about his health and safety. When out for a stroll through the pits, I notice the other parents who do protect their children’s hearing and we often times nod to one another in a knowing, appreciating way. We agree that we don’t want our children to grow up partially deaf like we are from a sport we all enjoy. I noticed these same parents along with myself, keep our young children away from the dangers of the starting line as well and we watch the racing from a safer distance. We are alert and cautious when in the staging lanes with our children and we leave the staging lanes promptly when the cars start to pull out.
Our son has been going to the races since he was 8 weeks old and he has always worn good headphones. I have always insisted upon it. I make him wear it whether he wants to or not. He knows it is not an option. I recommend good quality headphones designed for children over ear plugs. Headphones are more comfortable than ear plugs and offer greater protection. Ear plugs can work loose or fall out and aren’t made for the small ears of children.
No one likes to wear the headphones for hours straight so it’s imperative that you get away from the noise periodically. If you are racing, pit your vehicle farther from the line than usual so when you aren’t racing you can sit back, remove the headphones and relax a little. If you are a spectator, find a quiet area where you can sit and relax and remove the headphones for a rest to the head.
You don’t have to stay away from the track just because you have young children. They can be included in the fun if you just use a little common sense. If you have a child who you want to bring with you, but is afraid of the noise then allow him to get use to it gradually. Have the child wear good ear protection and slowly, in increments work your way closer to the cars. Back off if he shows any fear. Leave when he’s had enough. Over time he will adjust. It may take several trips to the track and the willingness to leave when it all gets to be too much for the child. Your goal is to have them enjoy the sport as much as you do, not grow up to hate it or be afraid of it. Just remember though, they’re babies who need your love and protection.
I know some children don’t like to wear hearing protection as it can get uncomfortable, but you must insist upon it and be diligent in making them wear it. Wear hearing protection yourself. Showing your children you wear it too makes more sense to a child rather than just telling them to do so, but not caring enough to protect your own hearing. After a while they will get used to wearing it and will later thank you for it when they still have their hearing and are purchasing hearing aid batteries as Christmas stocking stuffers for you.
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