Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The safety and welfare of Virginia Tech student-athletes is always at the forefront for Tech's Sports Medicine team led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Rogers and Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine Mike Goforth, ATC.
Innovative engineering, research and testing have produced a myriad of advances in athletic and medical equipment over the years. Virginia Tech has been on the cutting edge of head impact research and athletic helmet safety for 15 years, now another exciting development has occurred to Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech Athletics has teamed with health solutions company Vital Vio to incorporate new germ-killing LEDs in four medical exam rooms in the Jamerson Athletic Center. Research has shown that, used in combination with traditional intermittent cleaning, these disinfecting LEDs provide a safe, effective and continuous added layer of protection against MRSA, E. coli, listeria, salmonella, and other bacteria, along with mold, mildew and other fungi (not viruses).
Initially tested in hospitals and other medical settings, these continuously disinfecting lights powered by Vital Vio's VioSafe® patented technology are proven to show a statistically significant reduction in bacteria and other harmful germs. The proprietary technology works by exciting certain molecules in microorganisms through photo-activation, which produces a reaction that causes cell damage and death over time. Unlike UV lighting, these germ-killing LEDs are safe for continuous exposure to people and pets.
"We are excited to become one of the first collegiate athletic departments in the nation to incorporate this new technology into our sports medicine center at Virginia Tech," Dr. Rogers said. "This system has been successfully utilized in some of the most prominent medical facilities in the country, so we're pleased to add another level of protection for our student-athletes and staff who utilize and work in the Jamerson Athletic Center."
"About 10 to 15 percent of injuries that force college-level athletes to take time off from playing a sport are due to infectious disease," according to an American Academy of Pediatrics report, published in the October 2017 issue of Pediatrics
Jamerson Athletic Center Installation Information
The athletics department had four VioSafe® 2'x2' Dual Mode Troffer Antibacterial Light installed in each of the four medical exam rooms in Jamerson Athletic Center. These disinfecting LEDs will be on in the 'White Light Disinfection® Mode' when both continuous disinfection and safe illumination are needed. When full, bright white light is not required, the lights can be switched to a violet hue in 'Eco Mode,' emitting higher levels of Vital Vio's antimicrobial wavelengths. Both modes are safe for people and pets.