Date:            September 9, 2009
From:           Dr. Mark Aubry, Chief Medical Officer, Hockey Canada
SUBJECT:   H1N1 Virus – Recommended Steps for all Associations and Teams
 

There is presently much speculation as to the impact that the H1N1 virus will have on Canadians over the next few months. Organizations have been urged to stress to their members steps that should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, and to have plans in place to alleviate any hardships that may come of the spread of H1N1.
Hockey Canada has for many years had specific steps in place to reduce the spread of any infection in the hockey environment and we urge you to remind your teams of the following.
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. The following are recommended steps within the team environment:

1. Players should be urged to report all illnesses to their parents and the Safety Person/Trainer. Parents are urged to keep their children away from the hockey 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.
2. Players should be encouraged to wash hands routinely and always after handling hockey 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 arenas have this readily available.
3. Talk to your players about covering their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing using their arm as opposed to their hands.
4. Advise players to try and not touch their own mouths or nose when in the hockey environment to reduce the chance of them passing an infection on to themselves.
5. 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.
6. Officials and coaches should avoid drinking from other players water bottles and have water readily available to them on their perspective benches.
7. Towels should be removed from all benches. Players should not share towels, clothing, bar soap or other personal items such as razors.
8. 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.
    

You will find important information on the H1N1 virus below and we suggest distributing this to your team’s staff and parents for their information. You may find additional information on the Health Canada website

• FACT SHEET - August 21, 2009
  Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport - Ministry of Health Services
  PROTECTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM THE H1N1 FLU VIRUS

• What you need to know about Influenza A (swine flu)

• Ministry of Health and Long Term Care - H1N1 Flu Virus
   

In response to the recent reports regarding the possibility of a re-emergence of the H1N1 influenza virus over the next several months, the attached information has been compiled from the Ontario Ministry of Health and is intended for the purpose of providing awareness, education and general guidelines in the prevention and recognition of the H1N1 flu.

From a safety and risk management perspective, the close interaction of athletes in a team sport environment is a potential concern for the transmission of this virus and in order to take precautionary measures, we encourage all member teams and associations to make this information readily available to team trainers.  

For additional information, please visit http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/