By Tori Godwin
PHS makes sure that students know precautions for the cold and flu season. Photo by: Tori Godwin
Stuffy nose, coughing, upset stomach and fever. These are all symptoms of a cold or the flu. There may not be a direct way to ensure the staff and the student body’s protection, but there are a few remedies that might be handy during this time of year. The cold and flu season has made its mark and this has a lot of students and staff worried about what is to come.
The cold and flu can come at unexpecting times, which can take a person by complete surprise. Since health is so dynamic, it is hard to tell when a sickness will strike. All that can be done is preparation for this time and to try to stop the cold and flu virus in its tracks.
Sophomore Faith Read usually does not worry about getting a cold or the flu because “I don’t [usually] get colds or the flu,” but if she needs medication, she will take it. Freshman Isamar Reyna said that she does everything like normal when she gets sick. Sophomore Rachel Calcagno stated “I prepare for the cold and flu season by using hand sanitizer and taking vitamins.”
When it comes to colds and the flu, there is no way to know when the cold or the flu will strike. That is when techniques are created to treat the cold or the flu. Calcagno explained “To treat a cold, I usually take cough drops for a sore throat. If I feel too sick, I go to the doctor.” Read said “I take Ibuprofen whenever I don’t feel good.” Reyna stated “ [I usually] stay home or eat saltine crackers and Sprite.”
Before a person is sick, there are precautions that can be taken to stop a virus from getting into the body. Reyna uses precautions like washing her hands and not drinking after other people to help herself not get sick. Read said “I wash my hands and I don’t share certain things with people that are sick.” Calcagno explained “Precautions I take usually involve staying away from people who are already sick.”
As the cold and flu season progresses, people start to notice the severity of getting sick. Many people are starting to notice that colds and the flu are getting much worse. Calcagno believes that sickneeses are worse this year than last year. “Almost all of my friends are sick.” She continued to say. Reyna agreed with Calcagno and said “yes, because it has lasted longer.” On the other hand, Read does not think that sicknesses are worse this year than last year. She stated “I don’t think that it has been that bad.”
Another thing that goes along with the cold and the flu season is flu vaccinations. Whether flu vaccinations are truly important has been a question raised by many people. Reyna thinks that they are important. She said “ Yes, so that you don’t get other people sick.” Read said “ They are very important unless you want to not take it and have a higher chance of getting other people sick.” Calcagno disagrees with flu vaccinations being important. She said “ I don’t think that flu vaccinations are important because flu vaccinations can’t always prevent you from getting sick.”
Whether someone agrees or disagrees with the importance of flu vaccinations is alright as long as precautions are taken to prevent getting the common cold or even something serious. Just remember to be careful during the cold and flu season because no one knows when it will strike next.