Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

School bans swimming goggles

|
|
 
  
USA's Michael Phelps adjusts his goggles before competing in the Men's 400 Meter Individual Medley final at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 10, 2008. Phelps won gold. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) 
Published: June 29, 2009 at 3:27 PM

EXETER, England, June 29 (UPI) -- A British school has banned swimming class students from wearing goggles because the protective eyewear could cause injuries.

St. Sidwells Primary School in Exeter, England, said it has decided to allow goggles only for children who have an "adverse reaction to chemicals in water" after receiving advice from the British Association of Advisors and Lecturers in Physical Education, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

"Head teachers should inform parents and carers that goggles can be a hazard and cause permanent eye injury," the association said in literature distributed to schools. "Wet plastic is very slippery and frequent, incorrect or unnecessary adjustment or removal of them, by pulling them away from the eyes instead of sliding them over the forehead, can lead to them slipping from the pupil's grasp with the hard plastic causing severe injury."

Tracy Brock, whose 11-year-old daughter attends the school, said the new rules are "health and safety gone too far."

"My children have worn goggles for years and there's never been a problem before. Part of growing up is playing taking risks. Children are being wrapped up in cotton wool now," she said.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Cheerleaders of 2012 Tibetan pilgrims celebrate New Years Oscar nominations 2012
2011: The year in space The Most Desirable Women of 2012 The best kisses
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 20
Cold snap across Europe
View Caption
fark
Protip: Dude, you're supposed to wait until you actually assume your teaching job before making...
Theme of Farktography Contest No. 353: "Apples vs. Oranges 2: The Rematch." Details and rules in...
(Almost) everyone loves the Taiwanese media animations of current news events. Now, learn the cool...
The mail never stops, Jerry
Vulcans dealing with Pon Farr, Microsoft defenestrating 200 workers, and Don Cornelius starting...
Man barricades himself in apartment after concluding that someone stole and ate his chicken meal...