Athletes spend a tremendous amount of time with their teammates, coaches and training staff. It’s no secret that team chemistry is essential to winning, but when does that camaraderie put athletes at risk for illness? Student athletes’ schedules are hectic to say the least, and the training staff stays just as busy with their day-to-day tasks. It takes teamwork to win on the field, but it also takes teamwork in athletic facilities to prevent the spread of illness-causing germs that can sideline athletes. Because germs don’t stay in the training room, infection prevention is a shared responsibility for everyone who cleans these facilities – from training rooms to stadiums and beyond.
Common illnesses found on campus, like the cold, flu and even mononucleosis are a constant threat to athletes and staff. It often takes just one person to start a chain reaction of illness that can put a season in jeopardy. Athletic trainers are on the front lines of athlete health and performance, and often take on the responsibility of monitoring and promoting infection prevention in their facilities.
“During a typical day, we’re seeing athletes before and after practice, setting up for practice or games, and if we have a few minutes to ourselves, we try to catch up on other work,” says Michelle Rura, assistant athletic director for sports medicine at Kent State University.
The rapid turnover from athlete to athlete also presents a significant risk for the spread of germs. Athletes bring outside pathogens into the training room and vice versa as they receive treatment, practice or compete. Jill Rondini, director of sports medicine at Oberlin College, adds, “Our athletes are coming in before and after class, and with that comes a host of germs from any number of places. Along with treatment, it’s our job to make sure the environment is as clean as possible.”
And while most athletes are aware of and practice good hygiene to stay healthy, they also trust that their teammates and training facilities are safe and healthy. According to Rura and Rondini, athletes are prone to sharing food, drinks and equipment – which opens the door to illness and infection.
A recent study in athletic facilities found influenza on 25 percent of commonly touched surfaces, including door handles, water bottle lids, and water cooler nozzles.1 Given how contagious the flu can be, good infection prevention is critical to preventing an outbreak. And when you consider the severity and duration of mono, sharing water bottles and other equipment can have disastrous effects.
“I always make it a point to remind our athletes not to share food or drinks. It’s easy for teammates to do, but it’s just not worth the risk,” says Rura. “We’re all working toward the same goal, and it just takes one lapse in judgement to spread germs.”
If (and when) athletes get sick and miss practice, it can be incredibly difficult for them to get back up to speed. Lost time means missed reps at practice, loss of fitness, and time apart from friends and teammates. As a trainer, Rondini goes the extra mile, “When an athlete is out for more than a day or so with an illness, I’ll call them just to say hi and check on their emotional state. These kids are hard-wired to compete, and when they can’t do that, it wears on them.”
From lost playing time to added stress from being held out of team activities, athletes have a lot to lose when illness strikes. It takes a unified front to keep your facility healthy, and when everyone prioritizes good hygiene, your infection prevention program can protect athletes and staff from the spread of germs.
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