Protect, Don’t Infect

This past month, students at UHS have been suffering from various sicknesses. Some have H1N1, others have the flu and a few (like me!) have a common cold. As everyone around you coughs, sneezes and spreads germs into the airstream, here are a few tactics to help stay healthy and avoid getting sick:

1. WASH Your Hands: I know everyone says this, but it’s true. Before you eat, touch your eyes, nose, mouth, etc., you NEED to wash your hands. Not only do you protect yourself, but you’re keeping those around you safe as well because the germs on your hands will be killed, too.

2. Avoid Touching Common Surfaces with Your Hands: Doors, faucets, toilet handles, and other areas are covered with disease-spreading bacteria. Touch these areas with a paper towel or your elbow to avoid letting the germs contact your skin.

3. Use Common Sense: Go on a walk, drink orange juice, go to bed on time and so on. We’re high schoolers, not superheroes. Skip the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and grab a banana- you’ll thank me when you’re not home sick.

4. Cough into Your Elbow: This way, your germs don’t come in contact with common objects that you touch with your hands.

If you find yourself feeling sick, do everyone a favor and stay home. It’s not fair to infect those around you! Stay home, sleep, drink lots of fluids and catch up on House. Everybody needs to rest at some point, and getting sick is your body’s way of letting you know it’s tired. You can only avoid sickness for so long.