As the season changes from summer to fall and fall to winter, people have been getting sick often.

“I have gotten sick almost always this time of year, especially getting the seasonal flu,” sophomore Khayam Ur Rehman said.

Viruses like the seasonal flu and common cold are all on the rise, though the highly contagious COVID-19 on the other hand is low but still present. Students have been getting sick especially around this time of season.

According to a recent survey by the CDC, “more than two-thirds of children missed at least one day of school for illness or injury in the previous year, and about half of those students were absent 1-3 days.”

Students have found ways to prevent themselves from getting sick by sticking to everyday habits to stay healthy and minimize the spread of infections in school settings.

According to the CDC, “Infections spread in schools because of shared objects, close contact with others, students playing closely together, lack of cleaning and disinfection routines and supplies, and lack of proper ventilation.”
Small everyday habits like sanitizing, washing hands, wearing a mask and minimizing physical contact all help minimize infections and viruses.

“I like to stay home and not go outside when it’s really cold, and make sure I sanitize when in public,” freshman Sahar Nazir said.

As students get older and reach high school, school work becomes more important and hard to miss, so falling ill would be highly inconvenient, especially for those in IB classes which is why it is so important to prevent getting sick.

So as the season changes, students can take action and prevent getting sick through certain actions like vaccines, sleep, and staying home.

It is important to use these precautions and actions so you can stay safe and healthy.
You can easily get your immunizations from your healthcare provider or a common doctor. Prices range: if you have to pay out of pocket, a flu shot can cost you anywhere from $20 to $70, with a high dose going up to $130.
Covid shots are $90 to $200 and RSV shots are $230-$306 per dose which is highly expensive depending on what pharmacy you buy from. It is important to get your immunizations to stay safe from sicknesses as they help prevent you from getting sick.

However, if you are not vaccinated or do not have access to vaccines, an alternative preventive measure is to wear a mask instead as it is still safe and a good precaution, and if you do get sick it is not as dangerous.
Sleep is also a great way to combat a sickness.

It is very important and studies show that 40-50% of people sleep more than usual when they are sick. It helps the body rest and relax as your body fights the infection.

It is very important to rest when sick so you can recover faster, better, and quicker.
“I like to sleep a lot when I’m sick because it helps me relax and I feel way better afterwards,” sophomore Zayan Malik said.

Staying home is another way to prevent spreading sickness, especially during school days. If you are sick and decide to go to school you are putting other people at risk.
While staying home is very important, you should always know when it is best to stay home or show up to school, and at what point you can no longer safely attend school.

Whether it’s a fever, small cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, a rash or pink eye, when you don’t feel like you can make it through the day, prioritize your health and make the right decision to stay home.

“When you just don’t feel like you can make it through the school day, in that case coming to school is not gonna help you be the best you can be as a student,” clinician Larry Cooper said.

Proper attire is very important as well, especially when it gets colder. Wearing things like jackets, hats, and proper warm clothes helps prevent the cold air from entering your body.

In addition, eating foods like warm soup, tea and hot chocolate will make you feel better as they’re hot and warm, making the body feel nice and relaxed.

It is highly recommended to stay home while sick to prevent others from getting sick and getting the rest you need to be at your best for school, family, and friends.

“I wanna stay healthy so I can ball hard, not sit on the bench and keep getting better, if I’m fresh I run faster, play longer, and nobody’s gotta carry me,” freshman Gezahene Zelalem said.