NEWS FLASH: Another flu bug is coming to our area. — Oh, darn.
Why am I offering such a melancholy response to what seems like an imminent pandemic? Why am I not running around in circles screaming??
As a Sports Massage Therapist and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), should I be concerned about being in so many events and around so many people? Should I be hibernating now to avoid exposure to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?
I’m not a medical doctor, but let’s look at this realistically. Our bodies are bombarded daily by germs, bacteria, viruses, and other nasty diseases from the inside and out. Some classifications are more hearty than others, but a virus is still a virus and a flu bug is still a flu bug. COVID-19 is a flu virus and is not much different than other flu viruses except, there’s no vaccine for it, yet.
Still, COVID-19 is serious, but it’s not unbeatable. Certainly you can do things to improve your immunity (if it ever shows up in Minnesota). That’s the plan I am working with – for the benefit of myself, my family, my massage centers, and my clients.
Start with Good Hygiene Habits
Let’s start with all of the same hygiene habits we use to prevent catching the “regular” flu. In Minnesota, flu is as certain as the seasons but we tend to get lazy with our hygiene habits – especially when the weather gets warmer. Don’t play that game this year!
Experts say good hygiene could be all you need to prevent catching this nasty COVID-19 virus. If you don’t already practice good hygiene, now is the best time to get better. No need to hibernate or cancel all your activities – just be smart about where you put your hands and when.
Self-Check Before You Go
For those who play close contact sports like basketball and wrestling, it is very important to do a self-health check before showing up for the event. If you feel the least bit ill (scratchy throat, lethargic/tired, achy all over, low grade fever), DON’T GO. While at the event, be smart about touching your nose, eyes, and mouth (if possible).
For example, that basketball, which has been handled by 20+ players, is not the thing you want to touch before rubbing your eyes. Licking your hands to wipe off the bottom of your shoes is not a good idea either. And finally, go ahead and wash your uniforms and jerseys after use – don’t just throw them in your duffel bag for use next week. Then, use disinfecting wipes your sports equipment.
How it Spreads
Experts at the CDC believe the virus spreads airborne most often when in close proximity (6-feet) of an infected person. Breathing in the infected micro-droplets from sneezing, coughing, and talking have most often been identified. Sometimes these droplets land on surfaces, are picked up on the hands of another person and then the hands touch the face. So, help your fellow human by coughing or sneezing into a tissue then throw the tissue away – don’t stick it into your pocket for later. Then go wash your hands or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Wash Your Hands
Remember, the most important thing you can do to prevent catching any infection is the easiest thing to do. Wash your hands! You should be washing your hands after competing, after using a toilet (in public and at home). You should be washing your hands before preparing food and eating. You should be washing your hands before touching your face – anywhere.
Good hand washing techniques are easy – 20-seconds of washing with soap and water then rinse. Use of hand sanitizer can help when soap and water is not readily available. Remember, with hand sanitizer, you only kill the germs – they are still on your hands, but it is better than not using anything at all.
Sanitize Commonly Touched Surfaces
The next easiest way to avoid spread of the virus is to keep commonly touched surfaces clean. Water bottles, doorknobs, keyboards and mouse, refrigerator handles, toilet flushers, steering wheels, mailbox handles, kitchen garbage can lids, chair handles, gaming controllers, your cell phone, and the Television Remote – wipe them frequently with a household sanitizing cleaning wipe. Don’t have one handy? Use soap and water!
Interestingly, the COVID-19 virus has a lipid (fatty) protective coating which makes it more likely to survive on surfaces for a longer period of time. But, ANY cleaner which removes grease or grime will effectively clean the virus off of surfaces including dishes.
Mask or No Mask?
What about a mask? To be clear, don’t wear a mask to prevent catching the virus unless you have a diminished immune system or respiratory conditions. But, if you feel ill, wear a mask when you go see your Healthcare Provider – they will appreciate it.
What We Do To Keep You Safe
At our RTPI clinics in Edina and St. Paul we have always worked hard to keep everyone safe during flu season and all year long. We are not required to do hospital-grade sanitation and disinfection because we don’t deal with sicknesses, blood, open wounds, medicine, etc. However, we still want to provide a safe environment for all:
- We always wash our hands, with soap and water, before AND after working with each client (yes, two-times between clients).
- We frequently wipe down commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs, counters, and chair handrails.
- The equipment and tools we use during treatments are cleaned properly with clinic-level sanitation wipes and solutions.
- We certainly won’t work on you if we are feeling sick (or possibly contagious). We hope you will call us to reschedule if you are feeling ill or contagious, too.
Be Proactive
Again, we are not offering medical advice, just simple, everyday precautions. Keep your immune system at peak performance – eat healthy (a well-rounded diet), use good hygiene practices, and consider stocking up on your “go to” cold/flu medicines now so you have them on hand, if needed.
If you feel like you have the flu, don’t wait. Put on a mask (or grab one at the front door of the clinic) and go see your primary healthcare provider or urgent care. Assume you are contagious and don’t go to work/school. Maybe you caught this year’s flu bug or something else – but you can get through it.
Go ahead and play ball! Adopt good hygiene habits and help kids do so also. In Minnesota, we fight the flu every winter – this year, keep it up all year long!
Return to Play Institute, LLC provides manual soft tissue therapy (Therapeutic Massage) for athletes and active people to help them feel better, recover quicker, and return to play faster. We treat active people of all ages, and specialize in working with high school and collegiate athletes. In addition, some of our therapists are EMTs and provide sideline EMT services for sports events on the weekends.
Sources:
Preparing for COVID-19 at home.
Coronavirus Disease 2019