Avon High School Wrestling Guidelines for Prevention of Skin Infections:
Wrestling is a contact sport where skin infections occur from direct transfer from wrestlers’ skin, their equipment, their gear, and the environmental surfaces they compete on.
1. Wash hands often with soap and water. Use alcohol hand rub if soap is not available and hands do not look dirty.
2. CLEAN CLOTHES MUST be worn at all practices. This includes pads and sleeves. If athletes re-use clothing from a previous practice, that clothing may be contaminated with harmful bacteria that may multiply, especially if they have been left in a dark, damp locker. Clothes and towels taken home for laundering should be placed in disposable, plastic bags, never directly into a gym bag. This helps prevent germs from being transferred to the inside of the gym bag.
3. Shower immediately after wrestling practice. It is recommended to shower at school. The quicker the wrestler gets to the shower, the better. A great number of today’s athletes prefer to shower at home. If that is the case, the shower must be the first thing the athlete does when he or she gets home. The use of a shower mesh with antibacterial cleanser is strongly recommended. Using a shower mesh removes dirt and grime from the body better than just using the hands, and the mesh dries quickly to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi that can build up in a damp washcloth. Data does exist to support the use of Hibiclens as a body wash since it has longer killing power and is effective against MRSA. Hibiclens is an over-the-counter antibacterial wash used by the medical profession. Discuss using Hibiclens with your pediatrician.
4. Only use clean towels. Do not re-use towels and do not share towels.
5. DO NOT SHARE HEADGEAR or any other equipment. Wash headgear periodically.
6. Wash your singlet after every meet.
7. Shoes should be removed and stored in a separate compartment in the gym bag to prevent contamination of the interior of the bag. Wrestlers should wash their hands after putting on and taking off their shoes. Not every mat you wrestle on will be clean.
8. Cover all breaks in skin with a water-proof bandage. Change the bandage if it gets wet.
9. Notify the coach of all suspicious skin irritations. Not all mat burns are infected but they can become infected quickly because of the loss of skin integrity. Quick identification and treatment reduces loss of wrestling time.
10. Once a skin infection has been diagnosed by a physician, it must be treated and covered, and the wrestler needs to be cleared by a physician prior to returning to practice.
Sources: Comprehensive Athletic Treatment Center, Wyomissing, PA “Prevention of Skin Infections and Their Spread in Wrestling” Pennsylvania Wrestling Newsmagazine “Preventing Skin Infections”