Blog: Pocono Raceway Safety Tips
Writer: Ted Williams
5 Tips to Keep You Safe on Pocono Race Weekend
Are you heading up to Pocono Raceway for this weekend’s events? If so, follow these 5 tips to ensure you have a fun, safe and healthy time.
Every year, auto racing fans look forward to seeing their heroes up close and personal. They’ll have plenty of opportunities at Pocono Raceway late this spring and throughout the summer:
- June 9 – General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 ARCA Racing Series Race
- June 10 – Pocono Green 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series Race
- June 11 – Axalta Presents the Pocono 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race
- July 28 – ModSpace 150 ARCA Racing Series Race
- July 29 – Overton’s 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race
- July 30 – Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race
- Aug 20 – ABC Supply 500 Verizon IndyCar Series Race
If you’re headed to the track for any of the preliminaries or for the Sunday main events, here are some tips to keep you healthy, courtesy of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) emergency medicine physician and raceway medical director Jeffrey Kuklinski, DO.
- Stay well-hydrated – You’re spending hours at the track on a hot, sunny day, so you need to drink plenty of liquids. Water is your best bet. Alcoholic and carbonated beverages actually lead to dehydration.
- Apply lots of sunscreen – On a bright, sunny race day, you should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposure to the sun, then reapply it to exposed skin every hour or two. Follow the directions on the label. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher for adequate protection against sunburn. It’s also recommended to take occasional breaks in shade where possible.
- Wear earplugs – Race cars have been known to reach noise levels as high as 130 decibels. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, consistent exposure to noise higher than 85 decibels can damage your hearing. Earplugs can significantly reduce decibel level.
- Get up and stretch – A race of 400 miles takes a while, and it’s easy to stiffen up while sitting in the stands all afternoon. Do your body a favor and get up for walks a few times. Do some light stretches – front and side leg swings, a gentle back bend, and reaching for the sky. Ease into your stretches, and don’t bounce to avoid potential strains. Repeat each stretch a few times. If you have been feeling tingling sensations on your limbs and other muscle parts, you’ll find natural remedies at www.NervePainRemedies.com.
- Wear proper footwear – You’re likely to do a lot of walking coming and going between the parking areas and the raceway, and back and forth to your seat. It’s important to wear comfortable shoes that give you good support so moving around on race day will be as effortless as possible.
Pocono Raceway has also instituted several guidelines to ensure fan safety and comfort. They include:
Non-smoking areas
- Grandstand areas
- All Grandstand seating areas as well as under Grandstand seating areas
- All Terrace Club and 300-Level seating areas
- All Chalet Village areas
- All Skyboxes
- Infield areas
- Victory Circle Club and Patios
- Victory Circle Club Roof Garden
- Club Pocono
- Any indoor spaces including the cafeteria
Grandstand Code of Conduct
- Do not stand on seats or remain standing on stairwells.
- No seating of children on laps on race day.
- No throwing objects toward or onto track.
- Please do not drop cans or trash through Grandstand bleachers.
- Please leave room for emergency vehicle access while in any line.
- Please be responsible in the consumption of alcoholic beverages (must be 21 years of age).
- Sections 145 and 146 are considered family sections. Alcohol is prohibited in these sections.
See Pocono Raceway Fan Information for more details on fan safety.
LVHN is the official medical provider for all races at Pocono Raceway, supplying health care providers and medical facilities at the track.
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