Winter is a time where many variations of germs and viruses are passed around from peer to peer. From using the same door handles to not covering a cough, there are endless possibilities as to why MHS students are constantly feeling under the weather. Getting sick may be very difficult to avoid, but there are numerous tactics to lower the chances of falling ill. Hand sanitizer stations are located in various places around the school. Each classroom has hand sanitizer available for students to utilize. Students should wash their hands several times a day, for hand sanitizer is not a substitute for proper hand washing. If one does begin to feel sick, they should choose to stay home in order to prevent spreading the illness to others.
“People who are sick need to stay at home due to the factor that they are getting more people sick. I’ve missed nine days of school this semester due to being sick, and it has majorly affected my workload,” sophomore Peyton Nedelsky said.
With an AP class and several honors classes, Nedelsky has almost two weeks worth of schoolwork she has to finish in a short amount of time. To avoid causing someone or oneself to be put in this position, students should stay home when feeling under the weather and try to do work at home. While school attendance is important, it is also crucial not to interrupt others’ education by passing off an illness.
Sometimes, people forget to take the steps to avoid getting sick or spreading sickness. With getting caught up in the daily life, it is easy to skip the procedures like washing hands regularly, keeping a safe distance from all people, and avoiding those who are feeling ill.
“If you have a fever of 100.4 or higher, you should not come to school. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, preferably into your elbow, wash your hands, and don’t eat or drink after others. Keep your distance from people, if you’re sick, you shouldn’t be in people’s faces,” nurse Melissa Wymer said.
A very common issue in regards to spreading germs is eating and drinking after other people. Just because someone does not display any symptoms of being sick, they can still spread germs and illness to you. For instance, if one forgets their water or snack at home, they should purchase one from the cafeteria or Power Station rather than borrowing someone else’s. It is also best to avoid close contact to other students and staff.
“Death. I was really miserable. I couldn’t breathe out of my throat, and I couldn’t breathe out of my nose or mouth,” sophomore Jaelynn Lucas said.
She was asked what it felt like when she was out sick. Lucas was suffering from severe cold symptoms, resulting in her missing school.
The best way to prevent others and yourself from being sick is staying home when feeling ill and practicing safety measures like hand washing.
