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TIPS ON STAYING HEALTHY AND AVOIDING ILLNESS

Date Posted: Friday Sep 11, 2009

 

Tips on Fighting Germs
 
Colds and other illnesses are a popular topic in the news lately. They are caused by viruses, bacteria, and other germs that can be spread through the air, droplets, direct contact, or by other means.
Staph bacteria are common causes of skin infection and other illnesses. MRSA, a type of staph, has been in the news due to outbreaks in schools, gyms, college and professional teams, and other community areas. 
Most recently, the H1N1 flu virus has been a widespread illness that was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The Fairfax County Health Department “recommends that students or staff with influenza-like symptoms (fever with a cough or sore throat) stay at home and out of school until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever, or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines. If students have flu-like symptoms, they should not participate in any school activities…”
These germs which cause illnesses, colds, and skin infections can be lessened and even prevented by basic personal hygiene habits such as:
  • Cover your mouth and nose if you cough/sneeze
  • Wash your hands thoroughly (20-30 sec) with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitizer after coughing/sneezing, prior to eating, etc.
  • Avoid sharing water bottles or drinking cups
  • Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages
  • Clean equipment, other items - use 10:1 to 100:1 bleach and water solution or commercial disinfectant labeled to be effective against Staph Aureus (Lysol®, Clorox Anywhere®)
Other suggestions in preventing skin infections for athletes or students in physical education include: 
  • Wear gym/practice clothes once per workout and take home to wash everyday
  • Use a clean pair of socks for practice and P.E.
  • Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered
  • Avoid sharing personal towels, soap, or razors
  • Wear shower shoes in the school showers
  • Shower immediately after practice or P.E.
  • Allow shoes and equipment to air out and dry between practices
  • Use foot powder to keep feet dry
 
The AHS Athletic Training Program would like to make parents aware of some products available for preventing skin infections such as staph and other germs: 
 
Hibiclens is an antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleanser and wound cleaner that kills bacteria (such as staph and MRSA) and other germs. We use it routinely with our athletes in preventing skin infections. You can purchase this at any pharmacy. Coupons for $1 OFF are available upon request. 
 
 
Fabric Aide, Sports Clean, and Sports XL are cleaning agents for clothes (lasts for 30 laundry washes) and equipment (lasts for 30 days) that provides a barrier against bacteria, fungus, and algae growth. This also helps REDUCE ODOR. The BAC-D Kit (all 3 products) plus Hibiclens are available online. A portion of sales is returned to support AHS Athletic Boosters. The cost is $49 (not incl. shipping). Go to:  www.keygreenworld.com/FCPS and select Annandale
 
If you have any questions on any of these products, please contact one of the athletic trainers, alison.lane@fcps.edu or kathy.ayers@fcps.edu. 
 
If you would like further information on what FCPS is doing to help prevent the spread of illnesses such as the H1NI flu, go to the FCPS website at: http://www.fcps.edu/news/swineflu.htm