The high school field hockey player lay motionless on the field of play; struck in the face by an errant stick. Instantly, the trainer and coaches ran out with a first aid kit. As the crowd looked on silently, the adults hovered over the junior defender with bandages, swabs and antibacterial cleansers.

While her teammates and opponents drifted toward the sidelines, two more adults ran onto the field with an even bigger kit.
“Uh, oh,” I thought to myself. “It can’t be good when you need two first aid kits.”

But that second wave of responders wasn’t interested in aiding the junior defender; instead, they went to work on the bloodstains that were soaking into the school’s $700,000 artificial turf field. After all, Ramsey High’s colors are blue and gold, not crimson red! I didn’t get a good look at what solution the maintenance workers were wiping the field with, but it’s a safe bet that it was one of the bio-based cleaning formulas that relies on enzymes to get out tough stains like blood and probably disinfect the area as well.

These systems and many others were on display at the annual International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) trade show a few weeks back. Christine Esposito was in Vegas to see the latest offerings in this multibillion-dollar segment that solves cleaning quandries whether they happen on an athletic field or inside an emergency room, fast food chain or public bathroom. Her article begins on p. 57.

Also this month, Melissa Meisel provides an update on all the new hair care SKUs that are popping up on store shelves and explains how the latest trends in cleansing and conditioning are impacting how we view healthy tresses. See p. 65 for her coverage of this $5 billion segment. A list of new ingredients for your hair care formula starts on p. 76.

And don’t worry, mom and dad…the kid was all right. One hour and four stitches in her mouth later, McKenzie returned home, got some rest and played in the state final two days later!

Tom Branna
VP/Editorial Director
[email protected]