Flu season is fast approaching….
Now that school is in full swing, some common childhood illnesses we tend to see during the fall can include: common “colds” (respiratory virus), stomach viruses (rotavirus), “the flu” (influenza), strep throat, herpangina (hand-foot-mouth) and even chicken pox (varicella). Here are some tips for students to stay healthy during the school year:
- Wash your hands frequently! Washing hands is the single most important way to protect yourself from getting and from spreading germs that cause illnesses.
- Cover your cough or sneeze. This helps prevent the spread of invisible germs to others around you or onto surfaces. Use a tissue or cough into your elbow. If you cough into your hand, remember to go wash it!
- Stay home when you are sick. Students with fever, sore throat, deep coughs and extreme fatigue should stay home. Comfort measures like resting, hydrating, and taking fever-reducing medicines all help and get you feeling better sooner. Limit social activities when you are sick (e.g. birthday parties, sleepovers) to avoid further spreading illnesses.
- Eat healthy & exercise. Studies have shown that a well-balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals along with exercising regularly helps keep your immune system strong to better fight off infections.
- Put away your devices and get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night. This allows our bodies and brains time to rest too.
- Visit your doctor regularly. Keep your immunizations up to date and discuss getting annual flu and Covid vaccines with your family doctor.
You can read more about these illnesses from the links below. If you have any other questions, please contact the School Nurse at nurse@isl.edu.lv.
