Should MA gyms have mandatory checks on serious contagious diseases?

[HearWa]

I was rolling last night with a new guy when my coach told me to stop because my forearm was bleeding. Indeed there was a lot of blood on my arm and I couldn't figure out how I had cut it. When I washed my arm off however it turned out that it wasn't my blood but my partners, he had cut his elbow somehow.

Not that I'm a germaphobe or anything but this got me thinking. What's stopping a guy with HIV or something from training with us? Shouldn't there be a mandatory check for these diseases at all MA gyms?

[WorldWarCheese]

No. Yes, you should be careful of such things, and thus before someone joins the club the teacher should ask the question "Do you have any blood transmittable disease as cuts will happen" or have it on the forms or something but having mandatory HIV tests seems a little extreme.

I know that bleeding happens a lot but how many times have you seen someone get HIV through rolling? I'm not saying it CAN'T happen but it doesn't enough to warrant mandatory tests of all incoming students.

[alex]

we have to provide a blood test every 6 months at least and yes i think this should be mandatory for any club.

[Teh El Macho]

Dude, it's even possible, although unlikely to get HIV or herpes from kissing someone. Yes, HIV is transmitted by bodily fluids, but also, it has to occur in a high-risk environment. Clusterfucking strangers on a regular basis is a high risk environment. Rolling on the mat where an accidental cut can occur is not.

Dude, it's possible to get HIV, genital herpes, and chicken pox from your partner. But, you shouldn't lose your sleep over something possible and yet highly improbable.

[feral]

Yeah, i just got blood on me last night while sparring. I thought it was mine at first, but in the end it ended up being someone elses. I think forced disclosure would be good, i'd want to know if hte guy i'm sparring has the hiv or any other disease that could be transfered via blood.

[alex]

Dude, it's even possible, although unlikely to get HIV or herpes from kissing someone. Yes, HIV is transmitted by bodily fluids, but also, it has to occur in a high-risk environment. Clusterfucking strangers on a regular basis is a high risk environment. Rolling on the mat where an accidental cut can occur is not.

Dude, it's possible to get HIV, genital herpes, and chicken pox from your partner. But, you shouldn't lose your sleep over something possible and yet highly improbable.

id rather someone took a few minutes to go get a fuckin test than run the risk of me catching a fatal disease. im picky like that.

[Teh El Macho]

That's fine and dandy, but any school that does regular blood checks better be sure to handle such private information as required by the law. It's a tricky business.

Having said that, I would not worry about HIV. There are other things that are more widespread (herpes, hepatitis, gonorrea, tuberculosis). If any of you, God's forbid get anything, chances are it will be one of those rather than HIV.

[Emevas]

When I wrestled in high school, whenever I would bleed I'd get really pissed and go "****! You don't have AIDS do you? I do NOT want to catch that **** again."

Little psychological warfare goes a long way.

On topic: Yeah, I'd feel safer knowing everyone doesn't have teh AIDS, but I wonder if there are legal issues.

[alex]

That's fine and dandy, but any school that does regular blood checks better be sure to handle such private information as required by the law. It's a tricky business.

if people dont want to provide a blood test they are more than welcome to **** off. i really cant see any reason why a club wouldnt do these checks. it isnt hard to comply with legal guidelines doing it. it takes 10 minutes of the persons time to make sure they arent going to give the person they are rolling/sparring with a debilitating or even fatal disease. how many people do you think regularly get checked up by themselves and would even know if they are carrying?

[Neildo]

I totally agree with Alex on this issue.