You must not share shin pads or equipment
that has not been cleaned this is a big mistake. Your chances of
catching a staph infection from a open cut or sore on your skin is
very high. Football and lacrosse players can also catch staph
infections. People that are into wrestling make sure the school uses
an antimicrobial agents to clean the wrestling mats.
You need to clean your equipment at least
once a month to reduce the chances of getting a stapf infection. Staph
can be found in body fluids, blood, sweat, and can hide in your
sports gear that come into contact with your skin. Weight lifters you
need to wipe down the benches and weight equipment with a
antimicrobial cloth most gyms will provide these.
You should also spray the equipment
with a disinfecting spray especially the equipment that gets high
usage. You should always wear flip flops in the shower room these are
high traffic, damp areas that will contain the bacteria that can
spread staph infections to your feet and ankle areas.
If you need to get your equipment cleaned
they are companies that can clean them for you. Most ice rinks and
other sports facilities will have a machine such as a Sanisport or a
local business with a Esporta machine. The Centers for Disease Control
which you can access online has more information on where there have
been outbreaks of staph and mrsa in your area. If you suspect you have
a infection you should consult with your doctor or go to an emergency
room right away, a bad infection can be fatal.
How to protect yourself
from blood-borne pathogens
We are all exposed to infectious diseases. However, our bodies are
powerful things and can fight off most of them without us even knowing
it. The most common blood borne pathogens include hepatitis B, C and
HIV.
For someone who works in the healthcare setting or even in an office,
here are some ways to prevent the transmission of these infectious
diseases. Always wear rubber gloves.
When an individual is bleeding or is
seeping any sort of bodily fluid you need to wear gloves. Act as if
everybody has HIV, even if they do not prevention is the best cure.
This way you are safe, you must protect yourself. Immediately wash
your hands after removing the gloves and wash anywhere that has come
in contact with fluids.
If there is blood on clothes, be sure to clean it completely off before
that athlete or individual returns to play. Any materials towels,
gauze, gloves with fluids, blood, pus, on them should be disposed of
in a biohazard container.
Hydrogen peroxide is a good item to use
to get blood of clothing. If CPR is needed, use a barrier you can buy
these at all drug stores. There are several mouthpieces, masks, and
valves available so mouth-to-mouth does not involve direct contact.
Treatment tables, benches, floors, or playing surfaces should be
disinfected daily. All health care professionals should have the
Hepatitis B vaccine. This will prevent the spread as well. Carry
hand sanitizer and wipes with you to practice and all athletic events.
This will prevent you from having to leave the area to wash your hands.
Any razors, needles, scalpels, and blades need to be disposed of in a
red "sharps" container after use. Washing your hands and arms is the
best way |
