By Anthony Petitt
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Recognizing the aggressive flu this winter, the Wellspring Fitness Center has taken numerous steps to combat the spread of the illness.
The Centers for Disease Control reported recently “when VE (vaccine effectiveness) against all influenza viruses was combined, the overall VE estimate was 19%.” The CDC also noted “flu activity has been elevated for 15 consecutive weeks nationally,” and 12 states, including New Jersey, “reported widespread influenza activity.”
The staff at the fitness center at Camden County College follows a number of procedures to fight the flu, as well as other contractible infections and viruses, and strives for cleanliness year round.
The weight room houses Simple Green Cleaning Solution, which Dean Derman, wellness technician/manager, described as a “household cleaner.”
The CDC has said about the prevention of Ebola: “Use a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered hospital disinfectant with a label claim for a non-enveloped virus (e.g., Norovirus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, or Poliovirus) to disinfect environmental surfaces in rooms of patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection.” Simple Green subsequently released a statement about one of its products, saying “Simple Green d Pro 5 is a hospital disinfectant that is EPA-registered to kill Adenovirus and Norovirus.”
Inside the main entrance to the center, prominently displayed, is a hand-cleaning station. The station features Club Wipes, which are “pre-moist towelettes designed for club members and employees to clean the fitness equipment,” according to Club Wipes USA. Derman says the Club Wipes fight “MRSA and staph infection.”
Derman recommends all gym-goers “wipe down the handles” of machines after use and notes the staff also perform this task daily.
Derman, who has worked in the center for 20 years, has seen first-hand the Wellspring grow and evolve over time.
Derman describes the center as “two treadmills and a bike” at its inception in 1989. Since then, the center has been vastly expanded, now consisting of two parallel workout rooms: one designed as a weight room and one dedicated to cardio. Provided exercise machines include: Precor Ellipticals, a Cybex single station, four stationary bicycles, a Stairmaster Stepmill, six treadmills and numerous weight machines.
The center is free to use for all Camden County College students and faculty. It is open select hours Monday through Friday. The center will close for spring break on March 13 and re-open on March 23.
A hand-cleaning station stands in Camden County College’s Wellspring Fitness Center.
By Anthony Petitt, CCC Journalism Program