Careful! Your health center can be a health hazard.

If you work out at a gym or recreation center, take these precautions to avoid coming home with someone’s flu, cold or staph infection:

• Clean any gym equipment before you use it. Most gyms and rec centers provide antibacterial cleaner. If yours doesn’t, insist on it.
• Don’t share towels. Bring your own or use only freshly washed towels from your gym.
• Always shower right after you exercise. Don’t wait until you get home to wash off.
• Wear flip flops in the locker room and shower.
• If you have any cuts, scrapes or other open wounds, avoid the pool, sauna and Jacuzzi tub.
• If you hear anyone in the locker room with obvious cold or flu symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing or sneezing, leave immediately.

On the flip side, if you have the flu, a cold, or any other infectious disease, stay home — not just from the gym, but from all public places. Many people think that a sauna at the gym might help flush out a cold, but you’re really just spreading the germs. If the management at your gym has not taken precautions and/or posted signs everywhere asking sick people to stay home, ask that they do. Even though this is a no-brainer, you’d be surprised.

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