"It's every coaches nightmare," said Coach Ernest Tolbert, Glenn Hills High School.

The staph infection MRSA is something coaches like Ernest Tolbert keep an eye on.

"It's the number one thing we watch for after kids get off the field. We watch for sores that don't heal," said Tolbert.

And if a player is injured, the treatment is immediate.

"We keep cans of medications to apply to open wounds to make sure staph infections don't occur," said Tolbert.

If a case of MRSA is confirmed, the school takes immediate action.

"They'll sterilize the entire locker room. Clean up the equipment. Everything is cleaned down to make sure the infection doesn't spread," said Tolbert.

Doctors say 25 percent of us have a form of staph. And a quick and simple nose swab test, you can find out if you're positive for MRSA within 24 hours.

After coaching football for 28 years, Tolbert say MRSA is nothing new in sports.

"The kids are out in the heat and sweat. Football being a contact sport. Again we watch out for these things," said Tolbert.

Doctors say while MRSA can be deadly, if caught early, it can be treated.

There are ways to protect yourself from getting MRSA. Doctors say you should washing your hands and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. You should also keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. And Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.