Photo by Lola Sisler

Sophomore Sammy Francisco fights his Flu symptoms at school after contraction.

It is commonly known that winter is the epitome of something called “sick season.” School becomes less crowded, people are calling out of class and seemingly everyone has a cough. Being sick not only shocks the immune system, it also shocks one’s school presence and grades. After interviewing the school nurse and a healthy MHHS athlete, here is a list containing five of the best ways to stay healthy this season.
1. Wash Your Hands
2. Don’t Share
3. Distance Yourself
4. Stay Home if You’re Sick
5. Take Vitamins
Freshman Zofia Dowd, a volleyball player, shares her methods for staying healthy, saying, “I try to keep my hands clean, especially during tryouts.”
In order to stay happy and healthy, it is vital to keep clean, especially one’s hands. Wash hands before eating, after eating, and especially after school. Hands transmit all kinds of germs, especially if they touch one’s face, mouth or eyes. Keep hands away from the face, and pay attention to small cuts or dry spots as germs can enter through them as well.
Furthermore, don’t share. Sharing food, drinks and even chapstick can promote the spread of unwanted germs, causing one to get sick. It’s important to make sure everything someone uses is their own, especially this season.
“Even at volleyball we don’t share water… everyone brings their own to games and practices,” Dowd said.
Additionally, keep a distance from those who are sick or could be getting sick. A cough and runny nose are usually telltale signs of sickness, so stay away. Germs are spread very easily, sometimes without one’s knowledge. When asked what to do when sick, Zofia shared,“I don’t go to practice so I can rest…I don’t want my teammates to be sick with me.”
Lastly, take vitamins to help strengthen your immune system and keep your body strong and prepared to fight sickness. During an interview with Nurse Benny, he shared that it was important to “…take vitamin C, get plenty of rest,” proving the importance of vitamins and their benefits as well as their effectiveness in preventing getting sick.
All in all, being sick is no fun, especially during school, as it causes unwanted absences and possible grade drops. It’s important to take note of those infected around you, do all you can to prevent the spread and keep your body healthy in order to be prepared and ready to fight off any sickness you may cross paths with.