Coming clean
January 25, 2008
By: Amy Flis <aflis@hilite.org>
It started with the single file lines in kindergarten, the tedious procession to the bathroom and the check to make sure every hand got washed. Juniors Evan Ackermann and Harrison Coleman both said they remember those good old days. Ackermann said he even remembers singing “Old McDonald” to make sure he washed his hands long enough. Now, he said, he just washes his hands as a habit.
“It’s like an instinct,” Coleman said. “Like whenever I walk into a classroom that has hand sanitizer, I usually use it. And also, I just wash my hands whenever I go to the bathroom.”
Good hygiene, especially washing hands, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent any illness according to school nurse Carol Gelatt. Although the recent methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks did not touch this school, they raised questions about proper disease prevention, not just in regards to rare illnesses but to any illness.
For example, the wrestling team maintains high standards of cleanliness to prevent the spread of disease. Ackermann and Coleman both wrestle on the school team.
“(The coaches) told us about (the MRSA infections), but there were measures taken to make sure no one got it, so I felt pretty safe,” Ackermann said.
Wrestling coach Jeremy Stacy said that athletes must be especially careful about disease prevention. According to him, the mats get washed down twice a day. The wrestlers shower with antibacterial soap after every practice and every meet, take home clothes to wash after every practice and even use a cream between matches to prevent the spread of any disease in such a high-contact sport.
“We mentioned (MRSA) to make sure that they were aware of it,” Stacy said. “But we’ve always been into these preventative measures anyhow.”
Gelatt said she stresses prevention as the first step. She said the one of the best measures is to wash hands and be aware of cleanliness. “MRSA is a bacteria that’s been around for quite some time. The scary part of that is that it is resistant to some antibiotics, but not all antibiotics,” Gelatt said. “It’s really nothing to be fearful of if it’s treated properly.”
Ackermann said he has had ringworm, but it wasn’t connected to wrestling. According to him, the wrestling team is very clean. In fact, the team only had one pre-season case of ringworm this year and none during the season. Both Ackermann and Coleman said they weren’t worried about MRSA, but it did make them somewhat more conscious of hygiene.
“I think (the MRSA threat) changed my habits because I started just washing my hands more, but that’s actually the only change I had,” Coleman said.
“The only thing it’s really done is make the wrestling room colder this year,” Ackermann said. “They ventilate it real well now.”
In response to whether people should worry about future outbreaks of infectious diseases, Gelatt said, “No, I just think you need to be cognizant of good hygiene, basic sanitary precautions, especially with cold and flu season, to prevent viral infections as well.”
Soon the school will have friendly reminders to wash hands posted in all the restrooms thanks to the nurse’s office. “Hopefully everyone’s doing that already at the high school level, but it’s always nice to have that reminder,” Gelatt said. Especially with cold and flu season in full swing, Gelatt said the posters will be helpful.
Gelatt asked for art instructor Jonathan Kane’s assistance in designing the hand-washing posters. He said, “She’s always there with a Band-aid and a smile, so I was glad to help her out.” Kane also said that he believes the reminder to wash hands does have an impact.
“I hope people just read it and understand that it’s important to keep your hands clean because that’s how the germs are spread,” Kane said.
Ackermann said he also thinks the signs could help. “Hopefully if people see a sign up, they’ll feel kind of guilty about skipping washing their hands.”
Regarding the prevention of any disease, including MRSA, Kane said, “I imagine (hand-washing) is helpful there, too. I think that’s the purpose of these posters, to keep your hands clean, because you touch everything with your hands, and that’s how you spread infection, any infection.”
Coleman also said that washing hands is important because hands pick up diseases so easily, and that he makes sure to wash his hands.
Kane said, “If we can stop (the spread of disease) here, I think we can help out quite a bit. Don’t you?”
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