Staying Well During Flu Season

It has been a beautiful fall in Nova Scotia and on the KES campus! Mother Nature blessed us with a number of warm days in the month of October, but now we will begin to ease ourselves into another Canadian winter. While we have seen many students come through Health Services for nothing more than a hello and a sucker, there have been many others with cold and flu symptoms.
 

It is not unusual for there to be an increased number of illnesses when we come together in classrooms, school activities, and in boarding. The viruses that cause many of the illnesses during "Cold and Flu Season" can be spread quite easily, however there are several ways that the students can protect themselves and others from getting sick. Most of these suggestions will come as no surprise as they are things we were told throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Without a doubt handwashing is the number one way to protect ourselves from spreading germs. If we consider the number things we touch on any given day, we can image how many opportunities we have for coming in contact with germs. I strongly encourage handwashing before and after almost any activity we do at the School, including, sports, drama, eating, and of course using the washroom. Hand sanitizer is located throughout the School for everyone to use. Remember, germs live on almost all surfaces, so please wash your hands. 
   

Another way we can avoid germs and stay healthy is by not sharing water bottles. This is a sure way to share germs with our teammates and fellow students. I know this may be a common practice on many of our sports teams, so if you must, keep your water bottle to yourself when you have a cold. 

Following the COVID-19 pandemic we were all very tired of wearing masks, however masks do help prevent the spread of germs. While it is not mandatory to wear a mask, I am always happy to provide a mask to anyone who is open to wearing one when they are sick. There are always masks available in Health Services. And remember, if you need to cough or sneeze, please do so into your elbow, not into your hands where germs can be spread.

Finally, getting the annual flu vaccine can help protect you against the flu. Health Services has been giving students and staff their flu shot throughout the month of October. If there is anyone in our KES family who has not received their flu shot and would like to get one, please contact the office by email at nurse@kes.ns.ca.

I do hope all our students are feeling well and are excited for all the activities and events leading us into the December break. I also wish all students good luck on their December exams. Know that Health Services is always here to support you in any way that we can.