I don't keep hand sanitizer in the studio for my health. Actually, it's for your health, and nothing drives that home like this NYT article on the kinds of skin infections that athletes pick up while they're training. No one wants to think it could happen to them, but germs run rampant in schools, commercial gyms and other workout facilities, and while it's my job to keep our beloved warehouse as clean as possible (hence my ongoing war against the crickets), here are a few things health-conscious campers can do to stay germ-free:
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Keep yourself and your equipment clean by showering with antibacterial soap and wiping down mats and bikes after you use them.
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Experts suggest you take advantage of gym showers to rinse off and put on clean clothes -- which should be kept separate from dirty ones. You might even consider packing them in separate bags and throwing the dirty clothes bag in the washer every now and then.
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Bring your own mat, and clean it regularly.
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Change athletic socks and underwear daily.
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Dry armpits and other areas (including between your little toes) and use foot powder and shower shoes when needed.
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Use only your own towels, razors, bar soap and water bottles.
While some of these suggestions may seem a little hardcore -- and, of course, everyone has to decide what works for them -- athletes should always assume they're exposed to skin infections, which occur in one out of every three people in the U.S. So don't scrimp on the sanitation and you should be able to work out without worrying about things like MRSA, ringworm and other nasties that like to hang out in workout rooms. {Read the rest}