Posting on behalf of Happy Freedman, Hospital for Special Surgery, NY
Detailed Guidance for Bike Fitters and Retailers During the COVID-19 PandemicBike fitters and retailers come in close contact with clients. It is of utmost importance to know what to do if your client demonstrates symptoms of COVID-19.
The most common symptoms are:
•Fever (>100.4 °F)
•Cough
•Shortness of breath
The CDC is currently recommending that health care providers reschedule non-urgent outpatient visits as necessary https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/guidance-hcf.html
Bike fitters should strongly consider rescheduling their clients to a future date to promote social distancing and reduce transmission risk. Some local governments have ordered residents to “shelter in place.†Fitters in these areas have no choice but to reschedule their fit clients and close their shops. If fitters in less restricted areas of the country choose to continue to provide fit services, we recommend that you follow the below recommendations to reduce your risk of exposure.
For fitters and retailers, we strongly recommend providing appointment-only sales, service, and fitting during the pandemic. This will allow you to limit the number of people in your store at any given time and limit potential exposure to the virus. Many shops are wisely offering pick-up and delivery for sales and service. For bike fitters, we recommend calling your fit clients 2 weeks prior to their scheduled appointments to ask about exposure risk, including travel, recent exposure to large crowds, or exposure to others with the above symptoms. We recommend that you reschedule any fit client who is at risk of recent exposure.
Please see this CDC document that provides guidance for risk assessment: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html
In addition to following standard precautions at all times to prevent disease transmission, bike fitters are strongly encouraged to use an infrared thermometer before beginning a fit session to screen people who may be sick. If you have a client who demonstrates a fever, cough, or shortness of breath; you should immediately bring the client outside and away from other people. If going outside is not possible, you should isolate them in a separate room. You should encourage the client to call their primary care provider or the state or local health authority if they do not have a primary care provider. People demonstrating the above symptoms who are not in acute distress should not go to the Emergency Department to avoid over stressing the health care system.
During a fit, we recommend that you avoid using a fan for cooling due to the potential to spread pathogens around your fit area and shop. Take precautions at the end of the workday to not contaminate your home by changing your clothing and shoes before you leave the shop or immediately when you get home. Put your work clothing in a laundry bag and immediately put them in the washing machine. Keep your work shoes outside or on a mat near the door. Ideally, you should leave your work shoes at work. You should take a shower immediately after returning home from work, or shower at work if possible.
Some bike fitters are also health care providers. The CDC instructs health care providers to contact the state or local health authority directly if you have a client or patient who demonstrates the above symptoms. You should also follow the protocol of your employer. Please refer to the CDC recommendations for health care providers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-risk-assesment-hcp.htmlIf a bike fitter or retailer has been exposed to a person who is suspected of having COVID-19, they should follow the CDC guidance on community-based exposure. Most community-based exposure is considered to be in the low or medium risk categories according to the above CDC risk assessment document.
Happy FreedmanBike Fitter, Hospital for Special Surgery
Andrea Myers, PT, DPTBoard Certified Orthopedic Specialist, Bike Fitter, Class Cycles