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USA Football

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Injury Prevention and Emergency Care Guide

Preventing Disease Transmission

June 16, 2005

Using the proper precautions can prevent serious disease.

Using the proper precautions can prevent serious disease.

Using the proper precautions can prevent serious disease.

WHAT COACHES SHOULD KNOW
  • Get and maintain immunizations
  • Wear protective gloves and use a pocket mask when assisting an injured player
  • Clean and disinfect, or properly dispose of, the supplies and equipment used to treat the injured player or the uniform that contains bloodstains.
  • If exposure to bodily fluid occurs, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and tell your physician about the situation.
  • Clean up a blood spill immediately after a spill occurs with paper towels or other absorbent material. After it has been wiped up, flood the area with a solution of 1/4 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of fresh water, and allow it to stand for at least 20 minutes.
  • Properly dispose of any contaminated material, including anything used to clean up, in a labeled biohazard container.

Simply touching a drop of infected blood puts a person at risk for contracting a disease. To prevent disease transmission, everyone needs to follow the safety rules.

Disease transmission begins when a pathogen (germ) invades the body. The germ enters either by direct or indirect contact (fluid, the air, or a bite from a carrier). When germs enter, the immune system blocks infection. Special white blood cells circulate in the bloodstream and identify invading germs. Once a pathogen is detected, white blood cells attack the germ by releasing infection-fighting proteins called antibodies.

Though the immune system is powerful, there are several communicable diseases that can overpower the body's defense system, such as herpes, meningitis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV. These diseases have severe consequences and require protective steps to avoid transmission.

To prevent the transmission of serious infections, a person needs to prepare a line of defense. Such a strategy begins with getting and maintaining immunizations for diseases such as Hepatitis B. When assisting an injured player, a defensive strategy is to wear protective gloves and a pocket mask. This breathing barrier helps protect the body from contamination, especially when giving rescue breaths or CPR. Also, clean and disinfect, or properly dispose of, the equipment that was used to treat the injured player or the uniform that may contain bloodstains.

The evaluation of any athlete, whether as a part of health evaluations prior to activity or as a diagnosis of an injury as the consequence of sports activities, is specific to that individual and the history and current state of the individual presented. Advice, diagnosis and treatment is individualized according to numerous factors, including patient health and age information, medical history and symptoms. All athletes should be cleared by a physician or other appropriate medical professional before engaging in physical activities and, after injury, diagnosis and treatment, for return to play.