Players look to bench flu
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: November 03, 2009 3:47 PM
Rossland Trail Minor Hockey Association (RTMHA) has had numerous confirmed cases of H1N1 on some teams and the president of the association is encouraging all hockey players to be taking the utmost precautions to prevent illness.
Hockey Canada has sent out a press release detailing how hockey players can lower their chances of getting sick and what to do if flu-like symptoms are occurring.
“Some teams have had five or six confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in our association in the past week,” said RTMHA president Shaun Brandt.
“We are encouraging players to use their own towels, water bottles, touching gloves instead of shaking hands and to stay home if they are feeling sick.”
Brandt said with the severity and numbers of the H1N1 chances are high of players easily contracting the virus and precautions need to be taken.
Hockey Canada is encouraging players to report all illnesses to their parents or trainers, and parents are urged to keep their children away from the hockey environment if they are showing any signs of illness.
Players should wash their hands frequently and always after handling hockey equipment, soap and hand sanitizers should be readily available.
“In the past if players were sick, they were told to ‘tough it out and help the team’ but now it’s a situation where you could be undermining your health and others,” said Brandt.
“It can be tough on the kids if they are missing school and getting behind on their work, it can be stressful, but your health should be more important.”
On the ice, players are also advised to use their arm to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and not to touch their mouths or nose when in the hockey environment.
Sufficient sleep and proper nutrition is also recommended to protect the immune system.
v2
