Wetsuit for an invalid ?

self wrote:
> An elderly friend, who has no interest in scuba or snorkeling, seeks
> advice.
>
> For exercise he leaves his house and walks outside to and from his
> heated pool.
>
> For the cold weather he would like advice on what kind of jacket or
> wetsuit top he could buy or have custom adjusted so that it would be
> easy for him to get into and out of. [For example, zippers not only in
> the front of the chest, but also up each arm.]
>
> He would don the jacket in his house, swim with it on, and remove it
> only when he had reentered the warmth of his house.
>
> Thank you for your help.
>

Sounds more like he would benefit from a Triathlon wetsuit. It is a lot
more like a full bodysuit instead of a jacket, but come in skin out so
it will shed water afterwards so that he won't get a chill walking back
home. Most I have seen come with a back zip, but front zip and arm zips
would be no problem for a competent suit builder. Of course, it is
going to cost a few bucks.

Good hunting!

--
Ray Contreras
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Webmonkey for:
http://www.ossystems.com
http://www.bobs-garage.com
http://www.coltri-usa.com
http://www.rayzplace.com

In article <pan.2008.01.16.03.59.20.500000@grumman581-usenet-2008-
spambob-net>, grumman581-usenet-2008@spambob.net says...
> On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:31:10 -0600, GreenGas wrote:
>
> > How about just a sleeveless cheater? Without a hood? Basically, it's a
> > tight fitting shirt, that provides some insulation around the core, but
> > leaves his arms totally free. In 88 degree water, most people would
> > overheat. But an elderly man may not have the heat generating ability to
> > perform like most younger, healthy folks.... thereby needing extra help.
> >
> > I think a 3 mil cheater would be stretchy enough for him to get on and off
> > and actually not mind doing it every day. Steve
>
> It's going to depend upon whether the warmth is needed for in the pool or
> on the way to and from the pool... I think that adding a zipper front to a
> sleeveless 'cheater' would make it pretty easy for him to put it on (or
> for whomever is assisting him)... Of course, it's also going to depend
> upon how cold the ambient air is on the way to and from the pool...
> Perhaps the OP should try it himself and determine what feels comfortable
> before using it on the invalid?
>
>
The warmth is needed in getting to and from the pool.
The pool itself is toasty warm
--
Pat

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:44:44 -0500, self wrote:

> The warmth is needed in getting to and from the pool. The pool itself is
> toasty warm

Perhaps a wetsuit is not what is needed then... If the water is already
very warm, wearing a wetsuit might be a bit uncomfortable... When you say
"invalid", are you meaning someone who muscle condition is poor and as
such is confined to a wheelchair and requires someone else to more them
around? Or is it even worse and the person is a paraplegic and cannot
even stand aided? How cold is the area that the person needs to move
through between their quarters and the pool?

--
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"self" <me@mine123.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.21f717353c149c959896c5@News.Individual.NE T...
> An elderly friend, who has no interest in scuba or snorkeling, seeks
> advice.
>
> For exercise he leaves his house and walks outside to and from his
> heated pool.
>
> For the cold weather he would like advice on what kind of jacket or
> wetsuit top he could buy or have custom adjusted so that it would be
> easy for him to get into and out of. [For example, zippers not only in
> the front of the chest, but also up each arm.]
>
> He would don the jacket in his house, swim with it on, and remove it
> only when he had reentered the warmth of his house.
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> --
> Pat

He does not need a wetsuit. What he needs is a good thick bathrobe to walk from the
pool to his house.

Adam

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:09:47 -0800, Adam Helberg wrote:

> He does not need a wetsuit. What he needs is a good thick bathrobe to walk
> from the pool to his house.

Depending upon their definition of "invalid", walking from the pool to the
house might not be possible...

Is the pool in an enclosed (i.e. warm) area? How far from the pool to the
house?

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"self" <me@mine123.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.21f763d6800d83af9896c8@News.Individual.NE T...
> In article <pan.2008.01.16.03.59.20.500000@grumman581-usenet-2008-
> spambob-net>, grumman581-usenet-2008@spambob.net says...
> >
> >
> The warmth is needed in getting to and from the pool.
> The pool itself is toasty warm

What's wrong with his regular jacket?

If he doesn't want to wear a regular jacket then maybe he should take a look
at a Chamyz.

> An elderly friend, who has no interest in scuba or snorkeling, seeks
> advice.

> For exercise he leaves his house and walks outside to and from his
> heated pool. For the cold weather he would like advice on what kind of
> jacket or
> wetsuit top he could buy or have custom adjusted so that it would be
> easy for him to get into and out of. [For example, zippers not only in
> the front of the chest, but also up each arm.]
> He would don the jacket in his house, swim with it on, and remove it
> only when he had reentered the warmth of his house.
> Thank you for your help.

I don't think I've ever seen a wetsuit that is easy to get in and out of.
Their nature is to be snug and that creates some difficulty. One that ends
at the waist, with short sleeves and a diagonal zipper probably comes
closest.

Since his pool is heated, perhaps a wetsuit is not the best tool for the
job. There are several after dive jackets on the market that are designed to
be warm, wind proof, absorbent and impervious to damage from getting wet.
Most have hoods, a plus if it's really cold out. Here's a bit of information
on one of them.
-----------------------------------------------
The last time ScubaLab reviewed dive parkas, the Divegear Boat Coat was one
of our favorites, earning a Testers' Choice rating for its combination of
comfort and features. Now the company has updated the classic après-dive
garment with a laundry list of improvements inside and out. One of the most
noticeable differences between the old and the new Boat Coat is the nylon
outer shell. The new version is softer, but still sheds water and shields
you from wind, which is job one for any dive parka. Improved Velcro straps
at the wrist, shock cords in the hood and a wind flap behind the zipper now
make it easier to bundle up when conditions are less than ideal. Cold hands
will find refuge in exterior pockets that are now lined on both sides with
fleece-a nice touch-and close with Velcro. Inside, there's a higher grade of
fleece lining and they added a cell phone pocket complete with its own
Velcro closure. But the best part may be what didn't change: the price.
Available in five sizes (small to XXL) and two colors (black or royal blue),
the Boat Coat is still $150. Contact: www.divegearusa.com.

Lee

Grumman-581 <grumman581-usenet-2...@spambob.net> wrote:
> Adam Helberg wrote:
> > He does not need a wetsuit. What he needs is a
> > good thick bathrobe to walk from the pool to his house.

This was my initial thoughts as well.

> Depending upon their definition of "invalid", walking from the pool to the
> house might not be possible...

I'd supect that if he was that bad off, it would be next to impossible
to get him in & out of a wetsuit without a couple of people helping
him, regardless of how many zippers it has. If he has that much help
around, they can carry him down to the pool in a Sedan Chair:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:R...ot te1775.jpg



> Is the pool in an enclosed (i.e. warm) area? *How far from the pool to the
> house?

One would hope that an 88F heated pool has some sort of bubble over it
to reduce heat loss if its that cold outside, but I'm guessing that
the situation that Pat is describing is an outdoor pool that's exposed
to (relatively moderate) temperate elements.

As such, the basic complaint is that the elderly swimmer gets cold in
transit between the house to the pool, particularly on his way back
when wet, starting as he steps out of the pool and is exposed to the
elements.

Its relatively expensive to enclose the entire pool, although one of
the self-erecting inflatable types probably wouldn't be too bad:

http://www.websweeper.com/php/pool_domes/do-001.php

(using their calculator, looks like around $300 for a 20' x 50')

My take is that all that's being effectively asked for is some way to
make the existing pool have "indoor/outdoor" access. As such, a new
"indoor" is needed at the pool, even if this is merely an unheated
'windbreak' and/or some other form of temporary, seasonal room where
one doesn't really get exposed to the outside elements (especially
wind, probably) - - its just for disrobing and for a quick towel-off
before throwing on the thick terry cloth bathrobe before returning to
the house via the outside path.

I'd be tempted to buy one of the reasonably priced assemble-it-
yourself Greenhouse Kits, such as:

http://growersupply.com/si6x8gr.html
http://www.greenhouses.com/eurostyle.html

From there, I'd set up a support beam across a part of the pool so as
to allow me to cantilever ~3ft of the greenhouse over the pool,
probably right at a pool ladder.

Now, the swimmer's water entry/exit is through the "floor" of the
greenhouse and his entry/exit is protected from the outside elements
so he can towel-off & bathrobe in relative comfort. The swimmer will
need to duck his head to swim under the wall of the greenhouse (and
its cantilevered support system out over the water) to access the main
part of the pool.

I don't even think that the room will need to be heated, as the
greenhouse will receive solar gain, plus it will be warmed by the warm
poolwater below the overhanging third...warm air rises.

Granted, these sorts of little greenhouses are in the $700-$1000 price
range plus installation, but we do have to recognize that a custom
wetsuit is probably going to run at least $200-$300 anyway. Of course
if it were my father, he would steal a couple of 2x10's from somewhere
to build the cantilever, use some 1x3's and ferring strips to built a
frame, which would then be sided with a roll of clear heavy plastic, a
staple gun and duct tape...total cost $10. He would then tie it down
with a couple of ropes and tent stakes to keep the little cockelshell
from blowing away


-hh

On Jan 16, 10:18*am, -hh <recscuba_goo...@huntzinger.com> wrote:
>
> (using their calculator, looks like around $300 for a 20' x 50')

Typo alert: $3,000!


-hh

"Lee Bell" <pleebell@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:69mjj.501$1f.495@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
>> An elderly friend, who has no interest in scuba or snorkeling, seeks
>> advice.
>
>> For exercise he leaves his house and walks outside to and from his
>> heated pool. For the cold weather he would like advice on what kind of
>> jacket or
>> wetsuit top he could buy or have custom adjusted so that it would be
>> easy for him to get into and out of. [For example, zippers not only in
>> the front of the chest, but also up each arm.]
>> He would don the jacket in his house, swim with it on, and remove it
>> only when he had reentered the warmth of his house.
>> Thank you for your help.
>
> I don't think I've ever seen a wetsuit that is easy to get in and out of.
> Their nature is to be snug and that creates some difficulty. One that ends
> at the waist, with short sleeves and a diagonal zipper probably comes
> closest.
>
> Since his pool is heated, perhaps a wetsuit is not the best tool for the
> job. There are several after dive jackets on the market that are designed
> to be warm, wind proof, absorbent and impervious to damage from getting
> wet. Most have hoods, a plus if it's really cold out. Here's a bit of
> information on one of them.
> -----------------------------------------------
> The last time ScubaLab reviewed dive parkas, the Divegear Boat Coat was
> one of our favorites, earning a Testers' Choice rating for its combination
> of comfort and features. Now the company has updated the classic
> après-dive garment with a laundry list of improvements inside and out. One
> of the most noticeable differences between the old and the new Boat Coat
> is the nylon outer shell. The new version is softer, but still sheds water
> and shields you from wind, which is job one for any dive parka. Improved
> Velcro straps at the wrist, shock cords in the hood and a wind flap behind
> the zipper now make it easier to bundle up when conditions are less than
> ideal. Cold hands will find refuge in exterior pockets that are now lined
> on both sides with fleece-a nice touch-and close with Velcro. Inside,
> there's a higher grade of fleece lining and they added a cell phone pocket
> complete with its own Velcro closure. But the best part may be what didn't
> change: the price. Available in five sizes (small to XXL) and two colors
> (black or royal blue), the Boat Coat is still $150. Contact:
> www.divegearusa.com.
>
> Lee
I think you've got the idea here. You can start with an off the rack jacket
or hoodie made for boating, then have a tailor put in zippers or Velcro
where needed. Based on everything I've read in this thread, a wetsuit is
the worst of all your choices.