November 7th, 2009. Both pre-game and post-game handshakes will no longer be
a requirement of teams within the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association
(including Community Club & Rising Stars) until further notice.
All other rules surrounding fair play and sportsmanship are expected of
all players, coaches, and spectators. At the end of the game, each
team is asked to give "three cheers" the opposing team before leaving
the floor. For more information on the H1N1 Influenza and sport...
The Sport Medicine & Science Council has gathered some information
related to the recent H1N1 Outbreak. Please review the below
information if you are hosting or planning to attend a major sporting
event in the near future...
What is H1N1 flu virus?
The H1N1 is a new version
of the flu virus. It is spread from person to person, and causes the
same symptoms as regular flu. H1N1 flu virus was first detected in
Mexico last spring. Within just a few months, it spread to many
countries around the world, prompting the World Health Organization in
June to declare the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. The H1N1 flu
virus has affected many Manitobans and this coming flu season it is
expected to affect many more.
How does H1N1 flu virus spread?
H1N1 flu spreads like any other flu virus, mainly from person to person
through coughing or sneezing. People can become infected by touching
objects or surfaces with flu viruses on them and then touching their
mouth or nose.
The H1N1 flu vaccine is now available
H1N1 immunization clinics will start in Manitoba during the week of
October 26. However, as the vaccine will arrive in shipments over time,
immunizations will start with people who will benefit most from the
vaccine.
This includes people 65 and under with chronic conditions; healthy
children six months to under five years of age; people living in remote
or isolated communities; health care workers; and household contacts
and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or
may not respond to vaccines
The H1N1 vaccine will be available to everyone else soon. Contact your
local public heath unit to find out when and where you can get your flu
shot.
Recommended steps in a team environment
Team staff need to emphasize to players and parents the need for total
cooperation in all aspects concerning hygiene, but specifically to the
prevention of the transmission of the H1N1 virus.
- Players should be urged to report all illnesses to their
parents, coach or managers. Parents are urged to keep their children
away from a sporting environment if they are showing any signs of
infectious disease or virus. Sick players are encouraged to see their
physician if showing signs or symptoms of the H1N1 virus, and to be
fully recovered prior to returning to play. - Players should
be encouraged to wash hands routinely and always after handling
sporting equipment. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is one of
the best preventions we can recommend. Teams are encouraged to carry
extra hand soap or hand sanitizer as not all gym and community centres
have this readily available. - Talk to your players about covering their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing using their arm as opposed to their hands.
- Advise
players to try and not touch their own mouths or nose when in a
sporting environment to reduce the chance of them passing an infection
on to themselves. - Ensure all players 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. - Officials and coaches should avoid drinking from
other players water bottles and have water readily available to them on
their respective benches. - Towels should be removed from all benches. Players should not share towels, clothing, bar soap or other personal items.
- Assist
athletes in protecting their immune system by stressing they get
sufficient sleep, that they do not over train and that they get proper
nutrition.
Athletes - Protecting Yourself From The Flu
You may have heard a lot of information about a new kind of flu virus
called H1N1 Influenza. It is always important to make sure you are
doing your best to prevent the spread of germs. Now more than ever you
should make sure that you are doing your best to keep yourself healthy.
Here are some extra tips to keep you healthy:
- Wash
your hands often with soap and water. Especially before eating and
after games and practices, and after using communal computers, games,
etc. - Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you and use it when soap and water is not available.
- DO NOT share water bottles, even with members of your own team. Also wash your water bottle often with soap and water.
- Keep your team uniforms clean and let your uniform and equipment dry out as best as possible.
- DO NOT share other personal items such as pillows, headphones, towels, and other toiletries.
- Bring
sandals to wear in the shower and around the residence and pool decks.
Avoid walking around in bare feet as much as possible. - Make sure you are eating properly and getting enough sleep. Keep yourself strong.
- If
you are experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, sore throat,
fever, cough, muscle pain, and weakness let someone know.
Use these tips to stay healthy and strong to enjoy your sporting experience.
Protecting Yourself From The Flu
You may have heard a lot of information about a new kind of flu virus
called H1N1 Influenza. It is always important to make sure you are
doing your best to prevent the spread of germs.
At this point there are no specific guidelines concerning athletes, but
please consider that guidelines that apply to clubs / schools / universities and
to travelers will be applicable. It is recommended that any major
sporting activity (especially where athletes from different
provinces/countries are congregating) should plan for H1N1 influenza,
and should have a medical/therapy team that is prepared and equipped to
deal with H1N1.
The most important prevention measure that can be taken
is facilitating hand hygiene by making sure that athletes and officials
have easy access to hand washing facilities, including the use of hand
sanitizers.
Of
course, when the H1N1 vaccine becomes widely available,
then athletes should be immunized. Procedures should also be in place
for how to quickly assess sick athletes and isolate them from other
athletes and officials while determining if they have H1N1 influenza
infection.
Given the current nature of H1N1
influenza, it is not likely that schools will close, unless the number
of sick teachers and students is so high that schools are temporarily
unable to run their programs. But the proactive closing of schools to
prevent H1N1 is not currently seen as an effective strategy.
At
this point there would be no need to proactively cancel any sporting
events or programs. Again, if H1N1 ends up affecting large numbers of
people at once just before or during a major sporting event, so that
not enough healthy athletes are available at any given time, then
sporting events may need to be canceled or postponed, but there is no
way of predicting in advance if this will be an issue at all.
Looking for more information related H1N1?
- Manitoba Health and Healthy Living
- Public Health Agency of
Canada - American Centers for Disease Control
Source http://www.sportmed.mb.ca/