Preventing Flu and Colds

Infectious Illness Guideline
Adapted from Nakkertok Nordic – Nakkertok Nordique , Nov 2009
Prevention
• Frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, especially before eating.
• Always use your own towel, face cloth, toothbrush, tooth paste, utensils.
• NEVER SHARE WATER BOTTLES OR GLASSES or FINGER FOOD (e.g. chips, candy, granola).
• Avoid touching your face or mouth with your hands.
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue. Use tissues only once and wash your hands after discarding them.
• Get adequate rest and nutrition.
• Athletes should be in individual beds, preferably placed head to foot to maximize distance between athletes. If sharing rooms, try to limit numbers per room in order to decrease chance of spread.
• Consider getting Influenza Vaccinations – H1N1 + seasonal
Symptoms
IF YOU HAVE THE ACUTE ONSET OF FEVER, COUGH, SNEEZING, SORE THROAT OR MUSCLE ACHES/JOINT PAINS, NAUSEA, VOMITTING or DIARRHEA DO NOT COME TO PRACTICE, RACE OR CAMP.
If an athlete or coach begins having any of the above symptoms:
• Isolate the athlete or coach immediately from other coaches and team mates.
• Assign an adult to care for the ill individual(s). Minimize the number of people caring for ill individuals and minimize the contact of these individuals with well persons. Transport ill individuals in a separate vehicle from well individuals.
• Preferably assign individual rooms to ill individuals. If this is not possible, group individuals with the same symptoms together but maximize distance between individuals by rearranging beds, for example head to foot, as possible.
• Clean surfaces contacted by ill individuals with bleach-based cleanser (e.g. Lysol wipes).
• Treat ill individuals symptomatically with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, adequate fluids and nutrition.
• A coach will contact a parent of the athlete and will discuss plans for transport home if required.
• Monitor for worsening symptoms, especially shortness of breath, blueness of the lips or pallor, dehydration, change in consciousness. SEE A DOCTOR IF ANY OF THESE OCCUR.
If an individual has been ill, he or she is NOT to return to group activities until symptom free and able to fully participate in all activities. H1N1 influenza is estimated to be contagious for 7 days from its onset.

- Coach Richard