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• Ensure that locker rooms and restrooms all have separate cleaning mops and buckets, and that all mops (use washable microfiber heads or disposable mop cloths) and buckets are cleaned regularly. • Consider making spray bottles of disinfectant available for patrons and staff to clean frequently touched surfaces of shared equipment between uses, and provide instruction (e.g., new user orientation or posters) for the safe use of disinfectant. Facility Maintenance – Laundry • Wash shared linens (e.g., towels, sheets, blankets or uniforms) in detergent and water at 160°F for at least 25 minutes. • Use a mechanical dryer on hot temperature cycle (i.e., avoid air drying). • Distribute towels, uniforms, etc. only when they are completely dry. Keep it Dry! Keeping the locker room areas dry and the humidity levels down has become more important than ever. Many skating facilities have addressed the humidity concerns in the ice surface area, but what about the locker room areas? If you are unsure of the levels, install a low-cost electronic hydrometer so you can monitor the area. If you do find high humidity levels, you should look at ways to increase airflow and ventilation in the area. Some facilities have installed ductwork that incorporates the dedicated dehumidification system for the ice area to include the locker room area. Depending on the type of dehumidification (desiccant or mechanical), this can be an effective way to help keep this area dry. In addition to dehumidification systems, many architects also recommend installing fans in locker rooms to increase airflow. The more air movement, the quicker the areas will dry, reducing humidity and the potential for mold, mildew, germs and bacteria. Also, the addition of radiant heat systems that have been installed in some newer facilities by running heated pipes under the floors of the locker room areas has gone a long way toward keeping these areas clean and dry while using free waste heat from the compressor system. Floor drains and sloped floors should be used to prevent standing water in any locker room or restroom area. Proper drainage aids in the cleaning of the areas by allowing the use of sprayers and hoses to wash down the areas. For buildings that may have a serious problem with bacteria, fungi and odors from athletic equipment and locker room areas, there is a treatment available from CleanZone. It can sanitize locker rooms and workout facilities, freshen and purify the air by using their unique, patent-pending Ozone Generators. This treatment uses UV light to produce the high concentrations of natural ozone necessary to kill bacteria, viruses, molds and other allergens residing in the air and on all surfaces, wet or dry. For more information go to cleanzonesystems.com. Hockey players in your facility need to be aware of their part in prevention of staph as well. Parents, players, and coaches should be aware of the signs of infection on the body and any concerns should be taken to a physician or team doctor. There are counter-measures to avoid infections. The first step is to prevent the CA-MRSA from first getting into the body, as well as reducing the amount of total bacteria and CA-MRSA on the body, if it does become attached. Cleaning hockey gear regularly is one of the best ways to do this. Posters for athletes' areas are available from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Use these posters in locker rooms to remind players that the best prevention is their personal hygiene. For posters, visit cdc.gov/hai/#Athletic. It's Worth the Effort The cleanliness of a locker room area really hit home for me when I had an adult hockey team come to my facility to play in our league. When we asked them why they were changing rinks, their main reason was the lack of cleaning and unsanitary conditions of the locker rooms at the rink they were skating at. Remember that new customers, as well as your regular customers, will have an expectation of cleanliness for your facility. Since the locker room area is a very important part of any skating facility, put in the effort to exceed this expectation and it will result in happier customers and more customers in the future. J This article was originally published in the March/ April 2008 issue of RINK Magazine. 30 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2014 RINKMAGAZINE.COM , Continued from page 29 ILLUSTRATIONS: RINK MAGAZINE, BIGSTOCK.COM Use microfiber cloth mops to significantly reduce bacteria. How Your Staff Can Combat Staph Infections