Get active in your community to help prevent the spread of MRSA!

MRSA affects more than 90,000 Americans every year. Almost 90 percent of physicians confirm that the prevalence of community-associated MRSA infections is increasing.

The spread of MRSA into community settings makes it more important than ever to educate Americans about practical ways to help reduce the spread of the infection. To help, the STOP MRSA Now coalition and NBA all-star Grant Hill joined together with the North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) to launch the national "Bleacher Brigade" challenge to activate individuals and communities across the country to help prevent the spread of MRSA in community settings and at home.

STOP MRSA Now and Grant Hill are asking parents, Booster Club supporters, individuals and communities to pledge their support to help prevent the spread of MRSA through the dissemination of information about MRSA prevention for the home and in community settings. Washing your hands, covering cuts and disinfecting surfaces with a bleach solution are just a few prevention tips.

To participate in the Bleacher Brigade challenge, simply help spread the word about MRSA prevention in your community and then tell us about it. While even small steps are important in spreading the word about MRSA prevention, the more people we reach, the better, so we encourage you to get the word out there in your community in a BIG way.

Here are some ideas on what you can do:

• Spread the Word: Hang prevention posters in your community (e.g., school, gym). You can request posters by e-mailing questions@stopmrsanow.org.
• Encourage Education: Encourage your children’s school or coaches to take steps to help prevent MRSA infections at school and among their athletic teams through MRSA awareness education and tips on MRSA prevention. Download a fact sheet on MRSA or the STOP MRSA Now Playbook with more tips on how to reduce the spread of MRSA. You can also make copies of these to share with friends, schools, coaches and others in your community.
• Go Viral: Post the badge above to your Facebook page, blog or Web site to help spread the word among your friends and readers and get them involved in the Bleacher Brigade challenge. Also, if you have a blog or community or sports organization Web site, consider posting prevention tips, the Playbook and other information there.
• Get the Media Involved: Contact your local newspaper or TV station and encourage them to run a story on the importance of MRSA prevention to further spread the word in your community. You can send along the fact sheet or STOP MRSA Now Playbook and tell them about this Web site to help them learn more.

Thank you for joining in the fight to help stop the spread of MRSA! Spreading awareness about MRSA and important prevention steps could not be done without people like you. Please let us know how you have helped.

If you have experienced first-hand the threat of MRSA, join the STOP MRSA Now coalition.
For more information on NABCA, visit www.boosterclubs.org.
View the Bleacher Brigade Multimedia News Release here.