Working out can be both challenging and rewarding. As more and more people make an attempt to get physically fit, there are a growing number of people who are joining gyms. By having a place to work out inside during all kinds of weather, a gym membership can be a great investment. Unfortunately, some gyms are not as clean as they should be and members are not able to stay as healthy as they want. In fact, although many gyms try to keep this information under wraps, the fact of the matter is that there are many places where people work out that are not as clean as they should be. A gym infection is not only dangerous to the first person who gets is contaminated, but it is also a danger to everyone else who shares the space.
With a gym infection it is somewhat easy for others to become ill because there is shared equipment and not all of the workout stations are kept as clean as possible. Gym bacteria that is left on a bar bell, for instance, can be easily transferred to the next member. In extreme situations, MRSA, a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics because it is is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, can work its way through an entire area and before you know it you can have a number of people with MRSA symptoms. At any given time, as many as 2% of the population carries MRSA.
Public Spaces Need to Cleaned and Sanitized on a Daily Basis
Gyms, however, are not the only spaces that can become contaminated and lead to the deadly spread of germs. Schools, public libraries, bus stops, and even churches can be places where viruses and bacteria are easily passed from one person to another. Consider some of these facts and figures about the many places that can cause problems and the illnesses that result:
- The average child catches between six and 10 colds a year, and it should come as no surprise that many of these occur during the school year.
- In fact, 22 million school days are lost a year in the U.S. because of the common cold, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- Flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces for as long as 48 hours.
- Unfortunately, only 5% of people wash their hands for 15 seconds or more.
- To effectively kill germs, the CDC recommends 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap and water.
Gym infection prevention and other measures can be taken to make sure that all public spaces are as safe as they should be. For athletes who pay membership to a gym, however, it is important to demand cleanliness so that you can stay as healthy as possible while you are working your way into better shape.
