Recess and School Sports

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Children with HIV can participate in recess, gym class, and sporting events. By law, the school must allow a student with HIV participation in these activities.

Cuts, scrapes, and nosebleeds can be fairly common in some sporting events. The risk of passing HIV to another person during a sporting event is very small. However, it is likely that there will be more blood exposure in sports such as football, hockey and wrestling and that should be taken into consideration by the family when thinking about participation in these sports.

Any equipment with signs of blood should be cleaned with fresh bleach solution and allowed to dry before re-using. Any blood soaked clothing should be replaced even during the event. Such items should be brought to the attention of the trainer by any athlete that notices blood on equipment. Any child who has signs of bleeding should be removed from the activity until the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been covered. These rules should be applied to all participating athletes regardless of HIV status.

Swimming in a school pool is usually safe for children with HIV whose CD4 counts are over 250.

Any child who is casually playing by riding a bike or scooter should wear a helmet and proper shoes to avoid injuries. This rule should be in effect for all children regardless of HIV status.

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