NORTH ALLEGHENY SPORTS NETWORK Athletic Director

PLAY SAFE AND CLEAN: HOW TO PREVENT
THE SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
IN SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS

Official statement from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
outlines guidelines for proper prevention

DALLAS, March 19, 2007 – The National Athletic Trainers’ Association today released a set of recommendations for precautions that should be followed by parents, coaches, athletic trainers, other health care professionals and participants in secondary school athletics, in order to prevent the spread of communicable and infectious diseases. Due to the nature of competitive sports at the high school level, there is an elevated risk of infectious diseases being spread by skin-to-skin contact and contaminated equipment shared by athletes. The recommendations are being issued in March during National Athletic Training Month, which promotes the theme of “Quality Health Care and Wellness.”

“Our guidelines are aimed at helping schools and students take the proper steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, which can have detrimental effects not only on athletes, but also athletic programs,” said Brian Robinson, MS, ATC, LAT, chair of NATA's Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Committee. “Many school-aged athletes – and wrestlers in particular – have a high risk of acquiring and spreading diseases while taking part in rough-and-tumble intense athletic activity. These conditions can sometimes even lead to shutting down the sport for all students until the infection is gone.”

A certified athletic trainer employed by the high school can evaluate and treat these skin conditions and prevent them from spreading to other team members. Among the common preventable diseases are:  impetigo, community acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus infection (MRSA) and herpes gladiatorum (a form of herpes virus that causes lesions on the head, neck and shoulders). Following are NATA’s guidelines for proper prevention of these and other communicable diseases that can be spread by athletic participation:

• Immediately shower after each practice or competition.
• Wash all athletic clothing worn during practice or competition daily.
• Clean and disinfect gym bags and/or travel bags, if the athlete is carrying dirty workout gear home to be washed and then bringing clean gear back to school in the same bag (note: this problem can also be prevented by using disposable bags for practice laundry).
• Wash athletic gear (such as knee or elbow pads) periodically and hang to dry.
• Clean and disinfect protective equipment such as helmets, shoulder pads, catcher’s equipment and hockey goalie equipment on a regular basis.
• Do not share towels or personal hygiene products with others.
• All skin lesions should be covered before practice or competition to prevent risk of infection to the wound and transmission of illness to other participants; only skin infections that have been properly diagnosed and treated may be covered to allow participation of any kind.
• All new skin lesions occurring during practice or competition should be properly diagnosed and treated immediately. 
• Playing fields should be inspected regularly for foreign objects and debris that could cause cuts or abrasions.
• Playing fields should be inspected regularly for animal droppings that could cause bacterial infections of cuts or abrasions.
• Athletic lockers should be sanitized between seasons.
• Rather than carpeting, locker or dressing rooms should have tile floors that can not only be cleaned, but also sanitized.
• Wrestling and gymnastics mats should be sanitized daily.
• Weight room equipment – including benches, bars and handles – should be cleaned and sanitized daily.

About the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA):
Athletic trainers are unique health care providers who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 30,000 members of the athletic training profession through education and research.  www.NATA.org.  NATA, 2952 Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75247, 214.637.6282; 214.637.2206 (fax).

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BOB BOZZUTO AT 724-934-7238