Now that winter is here students get to wear their big coats, hats, gloves, and scarves because it’s important to stay bundled up for this freezing cold winter weather. In the winter, there are lots of events and shows everywhere. While all of those things can be fun, everyone has to make sure they stay warm and bundled up so that they don’t contract the flu.
Influenza, also known as the flu, is one of the most common sicknesses during the winter season. The flu is a respiratory illness which affects the nose, throat, and lungs. The severity of the flu can vary, and in some cases can lead to death. Some of the symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, chills, congestion, sore throat, headache and fatigue. Other health issues caused by the flu are; infections, pneumonia, and dehydration. For people who have diabetes, asthma, or congestive heart failure it is essential to be careful because the flu can worsen these illnesses.
Individuals can prevent the flu with vaccinations or with personal action. Jayla Davis is very passionate towards keeping clean, mostly because her mother works at a hospital. A few tips Jayla has are to “Cuff it,” meaning to sneeze into your arm, and also “Keep up with hand hygiene.” She emphasizes this by encouraging individuals to “Use hand sanitizer before and after meals and also after sneezing or coughing.” She said “people also need to dress properly,” by wearing jackets, pants, scarves, and hats.
Nurse Sheila Brockmann is also enthusiastic about preventing the flu. She says that the flu season is taken seriously; however, a lot of people aren’t getting their flu shots. She also emphasized that students need to stay home when they’re sick so that they don’t spread their illness. Nurse Brockmann also believes that hand hygiene is very important. There are posters hung up in all of the bathrooms and even in her office telling you the importance of hand hygiene and also what germs could potentially be on their hands. She said there are hand sanitizer stations located all over the school.
Some people don’t like the idea of taking medicines because they are unnatural, so here are a few home remedies for clearing up your congestion and to feel better in general. Tip 1; keep your air humidified. Don’t allow the air to get too moist but also don’t allow it to get too dry, as this can cause the congestion to get worse; as another way to end congestion, Mrs Michelle. Bingham, a Social Studies teacher at La Plata High and an experienced caretaker, recommends “One half teaspoon of powdered cinnamon, mix it carefully one teaspoon of organic or raw honey. Making a paste out of it and then you just eat it.” She says that one more quick way of nasal decongestant is to chew on mints. Tip 2; stay hydrated. Drink lots of water or natural juices so your body stays hydrated. Tip 3; ventilate your house. Open the windows or doors on a warm day to get some fresh air inside. Tip 4; clean out your nasal passages. Use 16 ounces of water and a teaspoon of salt and allow it to flow through your nasal cavity.
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