Both OMHA and Hockey Canada have issued statements regarding the Coronavirus. This situation serves as a reminder that the health and safety of participants is a priority, and prevention in the hockey environment should be considered by those around the game.
Among the safety recommendations that should be considered at all times during hockey programming includes
a pre-game fist bump with hockey gloves on, instead of shaking hands. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Other recommendations include:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol‐based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Make soap and/or hand sanitizer available in dressing rooms and hotels.
- Avoid contact with sick people, including avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
- Gloves should be worn by staff handling towels or laundry in the team environment.
- Towels should not be shared on the team bench. Players should not share clothing, bar soap or other personal items such as razors.
- The Hockey Canada Safety Program recommends the following protocol as it relates to the use of water bottles:
- Good team hygiene includes ensuring all players and staff have their own water bottles to prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria.
- Bottles should be labelled and washed after each practice or game.
- It is further recommended that officials avoid the practice of drinking from the goaltender’s water bottle. If officials require water during a game, it is suggested they have their own water bottle at the penalty bench.
- There should not be sharing of water bottles in the penalty box, as well as no sharing of towels.
- Avoid raw or undercooked animal products if having team meals, or if eating while travelling to events/tournaments.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, wash hands).
- 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.
- Monitor illness and injury in all teams. Parents are urged to keep their children away from the hockey environment if they are showing any signs of infectious disease or virus.
- Team members should be encouraged to self‐report if they feel ill.
More information can be found by clicking the following links:
EGMHA will continue to monitor the situation and will update information as it comes available.