Pandemic

FQSE Suggested Guidelines for the Prevention of the H1N1 Virus*

September 2009

The Fédération québécoise du Sport étudiant recommends to all of its members to adopt the following measures in order to help prevent the transmission of the H1N1 virus. You can adapt the following suggestions to the reality of your environment.

Athletics Department staff should emphasize to student-athletes, coaches and support staff the need for total cooperation in all aspects concerning hygiene, but specifically to the prevention of the transmission of the H1N1 virus. The following are recommended steps within the sport environment:

1. Student-athletes should be encouraged to wash hands routinely and always after handling sports equipment. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is one of the best preventions. Teams are encouraged to carry extra hand sanitizers as not all sport venues have this readily available.
2. Talk to student-athletes about covering their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing using their arm as opposed to their hands.
3. Advise student-athletes to try and not touch their own mouths or nose when in the sport environment to reduce the chance of them passing an infection on to themselves.
4. Ensure student-athletes and staff have their own water bottles labeled with names and players numbers. Sport drink bottles should be avoided as direct lip contact is possible when drinking.
5. Officials and coaches should avoid drinking from other student-athletes water bottles and have water readily available to them on their perspective benches.
6. Towels should be removed from all benches. Student-athletes should not share towels, clothing, bar soap or other personal items such as razors.
7. Assist student-athletes in protecting their immune system by stressing they get sufficient sleep, that they do not over train and that they get proper nutrition.
8. Encourage student-athletes to consider getting a flu vaccine.
9. Student-athletes should be urged to report illnesses to their coaches. Sick players are encouraged to stay home and contact Info-Santé (8-1-1) if they show signs or symptoms of the H1N1 virus and to be fully recovered prior to returning to practice and play.
10. If a student-athlete becomes sick while on a road trip they should be isolated from other student-athletes.
11. When hosting an event, ensure:
    
    1. there are hand sanitizers available on site,
    2. that common touch areas and equipment are cleaned and disinfected regularly,
    3. that instructions on hand washing techniques are posted in public washrooms,
    4. that shared equipment such as microphones, walkie-talkies, lap-tops in athletes lounges, mats, etc. are sanitized regularly,
    5. that volunteers who are wiping floors are provided with gloves.

More specific guidelines will follow if necessary.

* (adapted from Hockey Canada and CIS guidelines prepared by Dr. Mark Aubry, Chief Medical Officer, Hockey Canada)