Clovis Unified aims to wipe out bacterial outbreaks with antimicrobial treatment

Clovis Unified is on a campaign to wipe out a potential threat to student health that can hide in gyms and weight rooms: illness-causing microbial contaminants such as MRSA, staph and ringworm.

The District is the first K-12 public school system in the nation to apply a long-lasting antimicrobial treatment to its wrestling mats and fitness and weight equipment in an effort to avoid common and often serious skin infections among student athletes.

By late-February, all elementary school wrestling mats, and intermediate and high school mats, and weight and fitness equipment will be treated with Sports Antimicrobial System’s SportsAide, an antimicrobial treatment proven to continually inhibit harmful bacteria, mold, mildew, algae and fungi growth for a minimum of one year. Other benefits of SportsAide include:

·         Won’t rub off or migrate onto athlete’s skin

·         Will not develop “Super Bugs” since microbes cannot adapt to it

·         Contains an EPA-registered active ingredient

“The safety of our student athletes is a top priority to us,” said Director of Co-Curricular Programs Dennis Lindsey. “Treating our facilities with a long-lasting antimicrobial product is another proactive thing that Clovis Unified can do to stay in front of the threat of bacterial outbreaks,” he added.

While the District has always followed an aggressive cleaning regiment on its mats and equipment, an antimicrobial product such as SAS will work 24/7 to inhibit bacterial growth and reduce the spread of skin ailments.

Clovis Unified’s use of the antimicrobial treatment at its elementary, intermediate and high schools is the first of its kind in the nation, in part because of the District’s well-developed elementary athletic program. SportsAide is the same product in use by many pro franchises, college and university athletic programs, U.S. Olympic basketball, the Army, and over 1,200 high schools nationwide.

Hygiene campaign

As part of the hygiene campaign the District is launching this month, the Co-Curricular Services and Nursing Services departments have developed booklet “Communicable skin conditions: Guide to prevention in athletes” to distribute among student athletes to raise awareness of the important role prompt showering and laundering of workout gear plays in avoiding dangerous outbreaks.

                The booklet, which can be requested from schools’ athletic offices, covers tips student athletes and parents can follow to increase good hygiene; the role of the coach and athletic trainer in keeping their athletes’ skin healthy; a guide to communicable skin disease prevention; and the District’s role in preventing skin diseases. Good hygiene practices for athletes, as outlined in the booklet, include:

·         Bathe regularly and shower immediately after all sport practices and matches. Use a clean, dry towel. Towels should not be shared.

·         Take good care of the skin: avoid skin damage, and clean damaged skin promptly with soap and water.

·         Daily skin checks; keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a dry bandage until healed.

·         Do not share personal hygiene items such as soap, towels, razors, clothing, or other items that touch skin.

·         Use a barrier (for example, clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as weight-training benches.

·         Wear practice clothes/uniforms only once. Wash soiled clothes, sheets, and towels with water and laundry detergent, and dry them completely in a hot dryer.

·         If clean athletic gear is dumped into a dirty laundry bag or gym bag, the gear immediately becomes a source of infection.

·         Promptly report abrasions, lacerations or skin infections to the coach, trainer and school nurse and provide appropriate medical documentation.