blood borne viruses and diseases, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C
How to avoid the transmission of blood borne viruses and diseases
Share your pain: ask your sports injury questions and answer them.
Increasingly people are becoming aware of the transmission of diseases through the participation in sport. If you're an athlete, you may not think that you are at risk but take a couple of minutes to read some of the advice that is given in the Blood Rules OK kit published by the Australian Institute of primary care (Sports Coach, Vol 24 (2) 8-9), and you might change your mind.
Common infections such as colds and flu may be spread during close contact in sport; although not too serious in nature they will inevitably have an impact on your short-term training. As well as these less serious infections several blood-borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can be transmitted during sporting contact, and you can appreciate that these could have a serious effect not only on your training but also on your long-term health.
Infections can be spread in a number of ways:
l blood-to-blood contact via open skin or wounds
l contact between a person's broken skin, mouth, eyes and other mucous membranes with another person's infected body fluid (blood, saliva)
l exposure of skin to another person's infected skin or body fluids. This could come about from body-to-body contact or simply shared equipment, clothing and surfaces that remain moist for a period of time (shower floors, benches)
l contaminated food - if people handling the food don't wash their hands, you could fall foul of stomach upsets, etc
l by breathing in airborne droplets of saliva or sputum when a person coughs or sneezes or spits.
So what can you do to minimise the risk of infection?
» Get immunised.
» Observe your sports blood rules (eg, if a player is bleeding they must immediately leave the field of play).
» Assume that all blood is potentially infectious (avoid direct contact, wear gloves, cover any cuts on hands with plasters).
» Don't share personal stuff. As silly as it may sound, don't share towels, soap, drinks bottle, nail clippers or any other personal kit that may have blood, saliva or any other body fluids present.
Finally, you should also remember that the risk of serious infection in sport is small, and if you follow these simple steps you will be able to enjoy safer sport.
Common infections such as colds and flu may be spread during close contact in sport; although not too serious in nature they will inevitably have an impact on your short-term training. As well as these less serious infections several blood-borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can be transmitted during sporting contact, and you can appreciate that these could have a serious effect not only on your training but also on your long-term health.
Infections can be spread in a number of ways:
l blood-to-blood contact via open skin or wounds
l contact between a person's broken skin, mouth, eyes and other mucous membranes with another person's infected body fluid (blood, saliva)
l exposure of skin to another person's infected skin or body fluids. This could come about from body-to-body contact or simply shared equipment, clothing and surfaces that remain moist for a period of time (shower floors, benches)
l contaminated food - if people handling the food don't wash their hands, you could fall foul of stomach upsets, etc
l by breathing in airborne droplets of saliva or sputum when a person coughs or sneezes or spits.
» Get immunised.
» Observe your sports blood rules (eg, if a player is bleeding they must immediately leave the field of play).
» Assume that all blood is potentially infectious (avoid direct contact, wear gloves, cover any cuts on hands with plasters).
» Don't share personal stuff. As silly as it may sound, don't share towels, soap, drinks bottle, nail clippers or any other personal kit that may have blood, saliva or any other body fluids present.
Finally, you should also remember that the risk of serious infection in sport is small, and if you follow these simple steps you will be able to enjoy safer sport.
