Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League

SATURDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama has declared the H1N1 swine flu a national emergency.

His proclamation, signed Friday night and released by the White House Saturday morning, will allow hospitals and doctors' offices to get legal waivers of federal rules so they can handle large numbers of sick people as the outbreak spreads.

⇒ CLICK HERE to read more...

Stay Healthy! Keep Your Team Healthy! Click on the links, below, for the most current information on the H1N1 (Swine) Flu:

⇒ www.Flu.Gov – the U.S. Government’s Official Flu Information website.

⇒ www.CDC.Gov/H1N1flu – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) H1N1 website.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used.* You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

[Source: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm ]

 
⇒ CLICK HERE for the Michigan Health Department Locator Map.

This link helps you find the appropriate health department listing for your county.

From there, you can select the appropriate link to your county's H1N1/Seasonal Flu Advisories.

[This Section Updated: 10/28/2009 - 1400]

 
It is hard to think of an environment more conducive to the creation of mold and bacteria and the outbreak and transmission of infection than ice hockey -- be it in the locker room, on the bench, the trunk of the car and, certainly, the hockey equipment itself and the bag it's carried in!

(Well, if smell/stench is any indication of potential problems, any hockey parent knows about that! --Ed.)

We reprint the following communication, sent out by one of our local LCAHL rinks some time back, because we feel that the information and cautions contained therein remain valid and timely, today.

MRSA can be a very serious problem and we think it is important to remind parents, players, coaches and team managers of the dangers of staph infections and what can be done to prevent and/or treat them.

We thank our friends over at the ONYX-Rochester Ice Arena (Suburban Group) for this:

From: Amy Steele
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007
To: ONYX Teams
Subject: Onyx-Rochester Ice Arena Protects Against MRSA

Dear Onyx Customers,

Recent news reports have highlighted an unsettling number of Methycilin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) outbreaks nationwide, but particularly in the Metro Detroit area...

At the Onyx, our customers are our highest priority, and we are doing all that we can to continue to offer you the safest and cleanest environment possible.

We have always held ourselves to the highest standards in regards to the cleanliness of our facilities, and will continue to do so. Our facilities maintain a rigorous cleaning schedule, and we have established cleaning protocols designed to keep our customers protected against MRSA and other infections.

In all of our facilities, we use cleaning agents that are approved by the EPA to kill the bacteria that causes MRSA. These agents are used consistently, and we are confident that their frequent use will provide our customers with a clean and sanitary environment.

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MRSA is not a "pretty" looking infection!

⇒ CLICK HERE for more images of this staph infection.

Individuals should also be taking actions to protect themselves and their families against MRSA and other infections. The following recommendations will help in reducing the risk of MRSA transmission:

• Wash hands frequently with warm water using soap for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol wipes and/or gel sanitizers are also acceptable.
• Make sure any cuts, scrapes, rashes, etc. are properly treated and covered completely with a sterile bandage.
• Do not share personal items, such as towels, razors, or soap, even among family members.
• Wash all clothing frequently with an antibacterial detergent.
• Spray protective gear with an antibacterial agent such as Lysol or Febreze, and allow those items to dry thoroughly before using.
• Avoid direct skin contact with locker room surfaces whenever possible.
• The use of shower sandals is recommended.
• Sitting bare-skin, directly on locker room benches should be avoided.
• If a wound looks infected, get it treated by a physician immediately.

While no environment can be 100% safe from MRSA or other infection, the steps outlined above can greatly reduce that risk. We are taking this issue very seriously, and will do all that we can to protect our customers. We take great pride in offering our customers a great facility, and we are committed to providing a safe and sanitary environment all of the time...

The following document is an effort of the Michigan Department of Community Health and the CDC:

The following links provide additional resources regarding MRSA:

[This Section Updated: 10/29/2009 - 0015]

 
With flu, et cetera, now a major issue, Team Managers may wish to open and print this .PDF document for use as a Hand-Out promoting the proper way to sneeze or cough and wash hands.

[This Section Posted: 10/26/2009 - 1915]