To ensure hygienic and safe surroundings for people taking part in physical activity, it’s important activity providers follow this guidance and encourage people taking part to do the same.
Ensure clean hands and avoid touching your face
Hand washing for at least 20 seconds, and showering at home before and after physical activity, is crucial for good hygiene – please encourage all those taking part to do so.
People are less likely to wash their hands if the only running water available is cold, so make sure warm water and antibacterial hand soap are easily accessible to anybody taking part in physical activity. In instances where hot and cold water is not available, hand sanitisers should be used as an alternative
‘Topping up’ soap dispensers can harbour bacteria, so you should wait until a soap dispenser is empty to refill it.
Provide disposable towels rather than multi-use where possible.
People should also avoid touching their face. To help people with this, encourage a message of keeping hands below shoulder level where possible.
Cover coughs and sneezes
People should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing.
They should immediately dispose of used tissues in a bin and wash their hands for 20 seconds or clean them with hand sanitiser.
Ensure clean surfaces and equipment
You must make sure that any equipment provided as part of your activity is cleaned frequently with the appropriate products, such as disinfectant wipes.
Shared equipment provided by the venue or organisation must periodically be washed thoroughly.
You should encourage people to remove any loose material (e.g. sand, turf, rubber-crumb, clay) from shoes, clothes, and equipment after taking part in physical activity outdoors before entering any building.
Avoid sharing equipment
People should not touch other people’s personal items such as towels, water bottles, or mobile phones, and this includes personal sports equipment such as tennis rackets.
Clean and cover wounds
It’s important that any cuts or abrasions are cleaned and covered at the earliest opportunity, to prevent entry of debris or dirt that can cause infection
Keep your first aid kit easily accessible and stocked with a good supply of plasters to ensure a speedy response when a wound occurs during activity.
