Protect Yourself from Staff Infections!
What is MRSA?
A staph infection is a type of bacteria commonly found on the
skin or in the nose of healthy people. In fact, according to the CDC, 30% of
people carry staph and don't even know it. MRSA is a type of staph infection
that is a bit more serious in nature because it is resistant to commonly used
antibiotics that help fight off the infection.
Dermatologists are finding
that MRSA infections have become increasingly common among high school and
college athletes. Anyone participating in organized sports should be aware of
the signs of a staph infection. In addition, preventative measures should be
taken to ensure you are protecting yourself on and off the field.
5 Signs of a Staph
Infection
Patches of skin that are red, swollen, painful, or have
pus.
Lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, or groin becoming swollen or
tender.
A scrape or cut that is sore, swollen or feeling hot.
Boils or
other skin lumps.
Peeling, blistering, or scaling of skin.
Preventative Measures
Staph infections are generally
spread from person to person by direct skin contact or contact with shared items
such as gym equipment. Below are a few things you can do too protect yourself
against getting a staph infection.
Wash your hands frequently.
Never
share towels or helmets with others.
Shower immediately after participating
in a sporting activity.
Wash your towels and uniforms in hot water and dry
on the hottest cycle
Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared
equipment
Use Gear Bags That Kill Bacteria
An
additional precaution you can take is to eliminate your wet, smelly infectious
gear with PowerDry gear bags from Shock Doctor. The PowerDry system not only
dries, it refreshes and deodorizes with ionization and ozone that can help
reduce bacteria on equipment inside the bag. Consistent and frequent drying
helps eliminates the moist environment that allows microbes to grow. By
protecting yourself against staph infections you can help to protect others.