As fall sets in and the summer heat subsides, many of us are breathing a huge sigh of relief. This change of seasons gives us much to look forward to, from those first cool breezes of September and early October to the upcoming holidays. One favorite hallmark is the return of the fall sports season.
Whether your child is barely out of diapers or making plans to graduate high school and go off into the world, team sports offer a constructive outlet and a unique opportunity to build community and camaraderie with peers.
This is a friendly reminder from Vi-Jon, the makers of Germ-X hand sanitizers, that while it’s easy to remember your portable hand sanitizer products, like Germ-X hand sanitizer spray or single-use hand sanitizer wipes when you head off to the sports field, take a step back and consider ways young athletes can practice good hand hygiene — and what they can do to stay in the game.
On and off the Field
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions families and youth athletes to take into consideration the following:
- Physical Closeness of Players
- Intensity Level
- Touching of Shared Equipment and Gear
- Age of Players
- Athlete Behavior Off the Field
Encouraging good hand hygiene — like washing hands regularly or using hand sanitizer when no soap and water are available — can help reduce germs on the skin. But there’s more to consider in keeping your child “in the game.”
4 Tips to Keep Your Young Athlete in the Game
Here are a few tips to stay in the game:
- Always send a spare change of clean clothes. It’s common to put on some comfortable exercise clothes or a sports uniform and wear it around all day, but the truth is that this isn’t hygienic — and for more reasons than one. Once your child becomes sweaty, that clothing is just another damp, dirty surface for bacteria, viruses, and fungus to cling to. From there, sitting on a locker room bench or getting a pat on the back can spread undesirable disease-causing germs.
- Wipe down surfaces regularly. Your young athlete is on the move, but that doesn’t mean there are no options for staying healthy on and off the field. Be sure to wipe down sports equipment regularly with sanitizing wipes to help minimize the spread of germs.
- Don’t share personal items with teammates. This should go without saying but sharing personal items like shoes or water bottles is a huge no-no if you’re trying to avoid illnesses. If you think your child is prone to sharing certain items, like socks, consider sending along with them an extra pair. If your child enjoys sharing, send along a portable hand sanitizer spray and feel a little more secure about helping them stay healthy.
- Clean hands regularly. Whether your child is out giving a high-five, getting up close to teammates during a huddle, or scoring a basket in the last five seconds of the game, it’s imperative that they keep hands clean before touching their mouth, eyes, or any other part of their bodies. When your child is on the go and doesn’t want to slow down, don’t give up on encouraging healthy habits. Arm your child with hand sanitizer for those times when soap and water aren’t an option.
When the goal is your child’s health and well-being, every little bit of effort helps. And Vi-Jon is right there with you. Since 1997, Vi-Jon has worked tirelessly on its Germ-X hand sanitizer formula. Germ-X hand sanitizer products contain USP-grade alcohol and moisturizers to help leave hands feeling smooth.
Vi-Jon is committed to understanding its customers’ needs, making sure to develop hand sanitizer products that are highly effective and easy to use. Depending on your family’s needs, you can choose between Germ-X hand sanitizer gels, sprays, wipes, and more. Go into this fall sports season with Vi-Jon and Germ-X products on your team.
