High school sports adopt HIV precaution - National Federation of High School sports adopts rule requiring players to dress bleeding wounds and change bloodied uniforms - Brief Article

Jet, Oct 4, 1993

As a precautionary measure to combat the spread of AIDS, high school football leagues across the country have implemented a new rule.

The rule requires a player to leave the game for at least one play when a game official discovers a bleeding wound or "excessive" blood on their jerseys.

The National Federation of High School sports adopted the rule which strictly prohibits a player from returning to the game until the wound is covered or the garment is replaced.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other research groups say contracting HIV through contact sports, appears unlikely, a spokesman for the high school federation reportedly said the group decided to impose the rule in all scholastic sports this school year at the risk of appearing too careful.