You may have noticed many of your friends, family, and teachers have been at home with a cold or flu. This is because October to May is known as the flu season. Many students have gotten sick and missed a lot of school, which is causing them to have bad attendance and fall behind on classwork. Sophomore Lola Shumow said, “Missing school was really awful because I was so sick, I couldn’t do work at home. Coming back to school was really weird and a huge adjustment because I had so much to make up.”

This same situation has been happening to many other students. Freshman Jackson King said, “It was super stressful. I felt like I could never catch up on my work because I also had new work to do on top of make-up work.” He also added, “Missing six days felt like missing a whole year.”

Staying healthy is important so you don’t have to miss school/work. According to the University of California San Fransisco, there are things you can do. Here are some of their  Tips to stay healthy during sick season.

1. Get a flu shot. Ask your parent or guardian to schedule an appointment for your yearly flu shot.
2. If you feel sick, it is recommended to stay home from school or work.
3. If you have the flu, make sure you’re fever-free at least 24 hours before returning to school/work.
4. Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough and sneeze.
5. Wash and sanitize your hands frequently.
6. Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose.
7. Clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces.
8. Practice healthy habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.