Download MSR Letter to Parents - BHS

Braintree High School Athletics
Michael Denise, Athletic Director
128 Town Street
Braintree, MA 02184
Office (781) 848-4000 x2124
Fax
(781) 843-7058
[email protected]
October 22, 2007
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Attached are informational articles that I would urge you to read regarding Protecting against
Skin Infections. Over the past few years, more and more athletes are being infected with
bacteria known as (MRSA), which is a specific strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium or
STAPH infection.
Although outbreaks of MRSA usually have been associated with health-care institutions, MRSA
is emerging as a cause of skin infections in sports the community. According to ESPN roughly
130,000 Americans are infected with MRSA each year. MRSA is usually contracted by a break in
the skin. It comes off the skin onto items such as towels, gym equipment, and body contacts in
sports.
Some guidelines for protecting your son/daughter against infections:











Washing uniforms and equipment after each game
Washing towels (do not leave towels in lockers in between games/practices)
Not sharing water bottles
Adequately covering wounds
Practicing and encouraging good hygiene, including showering with soap and hot
water after all practices and competitions
Avoiding sharing towels and personal items such as clothing or equipment
Ensuring all shared equipment is routinely cleaned with an antimicrobial cleaning
solution or disinfectant
Practicing proper first aid of skin wounds and monitoring for wound infections
Hand hygiene should be always be performed after contact with any wound
Encouraging players to report all skin lesions to the team trainer or coach
Seeking immediate medical attention for any serious or potentially infected skin
wound
As an athletic staff, we are working hard to make the student athletes aware of this potentially
serious infection, but we need your help. Please make sure you ask your son/daughter to take
care of their uniforms and practice items daily. If you can help monitor that these items are being
brought home and washed, we will better be able to prevent this infection from affecting our
athletes.
Sincerely,
Michael Denise
Director of Athletics
PRIDE
Where Quality Education and School Pride Are Always Present