Tis the Season to be Sick

According to flu.gov, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized every year from flu-related complications. Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like tables, desks and doorknobs. Studies show a person may be contagious 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Younger children may be contagious for longer than a week.

Making healthy choices at school and at home can help prevent the flu and spreading flu to others. As parents/guardians, ensure your sick child does not come to school and receives the appropriate treatment at home. Always remind your child to:

-Cover their nose and moth when they cough and sneeze.

-Wash their hands often with soap and water.

-Do not touch their eyes, nose and mouth. This is how germs spread.

The most important thing Holy Angels can do to reduce the risk of flu is to encourage all students and staff to be vaccinated against seasonal flu. The vaccination is recommended for all children aged 6 months and older and helps lower the overall burden of flu and its complications. Secondly, addressing the spread of germs and practicing good personal hygiene is essential. Introducing…toilet seat covers! Studies have shown bathrooms to be one of the “germiest” places on earth.

So what good are these paper toilet seat covers? Placing a paper seat cover prevents the germs that are already on the toilet seat from coming in contact with your skin. Let’s be honest here, children dribble. What’s a “dribble?” Dribbles are spots of urine left on the toilet seat who rush the urination process leaving a mess. We have all seen them before, you know what I’m talking about. Sister Leonarda visited each classroom to demonstrate proper usage of the toilet seat cover – “up, then down.” Up to pull the toilet seat cover halfway, then down to pull it out.