Thread: sick of getting sick

Just by the nature of the human immune system, next year will be better and as an added bonus, you'll be practically immune to any illness the people around you might contract.

I do take a cocktail of vitamins daily just because I believe it will prolong the quality of life I experience as I continue to age. I take a women's one-daily multivitamin, extra vitamin C, Calcium supplements, extra vitamin B, and Glucosamine/Chondroitin (for healthy joints and to help recovery of a particularly nasty joint injury last year). Generally, I don't get sick.

If you are regularly a germophobe, you could have set yourself up to have a weak immune system by lack of exposure to germs.

I think next year will be better, and within 5 years, nothing will be able to break your stride.

btw, what grade(s) do you teach? There could be a few specific kid-friendly tips that you might pick up from others who teach the same monsters you do!

I will tell you what I have learned from employment and experience in the food service industry.

* Wash your hands often. You can pick up cold germs easily, even when shaking someone's hand or touching doorknobs or handrails. When washing your hands, turn the water as hot as you can stand it. Use anti-bacterial soap. Scrub your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.

* Sneeze or cough into a tissue and then throw the tissue away. Do not stuff used tissues into your pocket for reuse. Do not use handkerchiefs.

* Clean surfaces you touch with a germ-killing disinfectant.

* Don't touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. Germs can enter your body easily by these paths. (This is another reason to wash your hands.)

* Contact a doctor if your mucus turns yellow-green. This is a sign of infection. Also contact a doctor if you have a cold for a prolonged time or if your symptoms appear to be getting worse.

Since it may not be practical to wash your hands in the classroom, keep a container of disinfectant wipes in a desk drawer. Be discrete in using them otherwise you might have a PR problem with parents.

I was that way as well, sick way too often.

The best news is that you'll probably wont be as sick as much as you go. It is not uncommon for new teachers to become sick a lot during their first year because they haven't been exposed to a lot of the viruses.

thanks i taught kindergarten and know i will be teaching 1st grade.

Me, too, I used an abundance of Airbornn and EmergenC both add to water, fizz, taste great and seem to help stave off working in a Petrie dish of bacteria.....

Washing your hands often is important....but it has more to do with your immune system...I take vitamins too....and rest which most teachers don't seem to get enough of....or at least not my colleagues.

I keep a teacher pen and pencil that children are not allowed to use. I also have my own crayons. I spray the tables every day after the children leave with vinegar spray (according to care2.com, vinegar will take away 97% of germs). It makes the classroom smell a little like salad dressing but the smell dissipates in about 15 minutes. I wash my hands at least 10 times a day. I make the children wash their hands before snack, before recess and before lunch. I also make the nose-pickers (aren't Kindergarten children revolting sometimes?) wash their hands when I catch them. When I get that sore throat feeling, I take echinacea and vitamin C immediately--I keep some in my desk. If I'm sick, I stay home so other teachers won't catch my illness.

A couple of ideas for keeping well:

Putting a slice of lemon in some water to drink during the day. Lemon acts as an
antibacterial agent.

Also, keeping a steady amount of "good" bacteria in your system by eating cultured yogurt
helps fight harmful bacteria and promotes health.

Originally Posted by teachermaria

thanks i taught kindergarten and know i will be teaching 1st grade.

And here lies the problem. Little kids are the buggiest little beasts around, and refuse to stay home from school no matter what, or their parents like the free daycare situation. Sometimes I do wonder.

My son is in Kindergarten this year and I was getting every bug he brought home. A former Primary school principal told me to carry that Germ-X stuff and wash your hands a lot.

Some folks say the Airborne stuff works. Other think it is junk. You just never know.

Staying healthy, well slept, and keeping away from the stress (like that is going to happen) will lessen the amount of sicknesses too.