Cold and flu season has officially begun. But this season certainly does not call for games, and the only referees are Nurse Gerald and her medical advice. With finals peeking around the corner, school attendance proves necessary to finalize the semester with impressive grades and satisfied parents who can purchase those asked-for expensive Christmas gadgets. Not to mention, those wishing to obtain their licenses must possess less than 10 unexcused absences.

Sometimes the sniffles, sore throat, and headaches appear without notice and render us powerless; however, several prevention measures exist to prepare our immune systems. By following Nurse Gerald’s advice, students will find themselves refreshed and equipped to fight cold and flu season.

Washing your hands remains a vital routine that helps prevent spreading germs and contaminating surfaces that are touched regularly. As we come in contact with different people and environments,  we come in contact with different germs. Whether texting on our phones, borrowing pencils from the kid across the classroom, or high-fiving friends in the hallway, our hands fall vulnerable to germs in places that appear most secure.

Nurse Gerald suggests: Frequently use antibacterial soap and water. Practice proper technique by allowing friction of hands, scratching palms to bring soap up under the nails, and rubbing for 20 seconds. Refrain from hand sanitizer unless soap and water is unavailable. Even then, use a sanitizer that possesses at least 60% alcohol because lower concentrations build resistance.

Leaving home clean and returning home germy is an example of contamination that leads to illness. If clothes become dirty after one day, so do the bodies that wear them. Many people take nighttime showers for granted, but bathing at night keeps sheets cleaner for longer. After being exposed to germs all day, not showering before laying down will contaminate sheets.

Nurse Gerald suggests: Bathe before bed. Take a shower immediately after school. Freshening up will assure a great night’s sleep.

Speaking of sleep, get some. Binge-watching  Scandal on Netflix and cramming for finals should stop after midnight. Slumber increases our ability to fight germs and ultimately improves our overall mood. So once the owls emerge, we should probably tuck ourselves into bed.

Nurse Gerald suggests: Hit the sheets. Get at least 6 hours of sleep so that your body can get the correct amount of rest. This also provides the body extra power to fight off illness.

Many high school students eat nothing but carbs while in school: a large muffin for breakfast, potato chips for snack, and two cookies for lunch. What we feed our bodies supplies us our fuel. To fight sickness, we must fill up responsibly: “Hot fries and soda do not count as a balanced diet,” Gerald affirmed.

Nurse Gerald suggests: Consume balanced meals and healthy snacks in between. “Empty snacks,” or ones without nutritional value, should stand on hold during this cold and flu season. Our bodies need extra energy to help heal, so choose the right fuel. Drink plenty of water. Get enough fruits and vegetables.

Nurse Gerald encourages NC students to use common sense during cold and flu season. Do not share drinks with each other, maintain cleanliness, and by all means, stay in school.

For more tips and tricks, check out this ThingLink floorplan. Hover over each part of the room to find out more information about where germs hide.